nervous
Americanadjective
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highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive.
to become nervous under stress.
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of or relating to the nerves.
nervous tension.
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affecting the nerves.
nervous diseases.
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experiencing, characterized by, or originating in a nervous system disorder.
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characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension.
a nervous moment for us all.
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having or containing nerves.
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sinewy or strong.
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Archaic. vigorous or spirited.
adjective
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very excitable or sensitive; highly strung
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(often foll by of) apprehensive or worried
I'm nervous of traffic
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of, relating to, or containing nerves; neural
nervous tissue
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affecting the nerves or nervous tissue
a nervous disease
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archaic active, vigorous, or forceful
Other Word Forms
- nervously adverb
- nervousness noun
- nonnervous adjective
- nonnervously adverb
- overnervous adjective
- overnervously adverb
- seminervous adjective
- seminervously adverb
- unnervous adjective
- unnervously adverb
Etymology
Origin of nervous
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin nervōsus “sinewy,” equivalent to nerv(us) nerve + -ōsus -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A blind couple from Scarborough have said they hope the story of their upcoming marriage can inspire other visually impaired people who are nervous about dating.
From BBC
This powerful chemical compound acts on nicotinic receptors in the nervous system, according to Johnson.
From BBC
Another trend that is making some investors nervous: that defensive sectors like consumer staples have been on a tear lately.
From MarketWatch
The myCAFs release signals that draw in nerve fibers from the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body's fight or flight response.
From Science Daily
"I was more nervous than maybe I'd realised for the first run and I felt a little bit like jelly on the block," she said.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
