anxious

[angk-shuhs, ang-]

adjective

1. full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; apprehensive.

   Her parents were anxious about her poor health.

   Synonyms: enthusiastic, solicitous, uneasy, fearful, disturbed, concerned
   Antonyms: confident, calm

2. earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive orfor ): anxious for our happiness.

   anxious to please;

   anxious for our happiness.

   Antonyms: hesitant, reluctant

3. attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness.

   anxious forebodings.

anxious

/ ˈæŋkʃəs, ˈæŋʃəs /

adjective

1. worried and tense because of possible misfortune, danger, etc; uneasy

2. fraught with or causing anxiety; worrying; distressing

   an anxious time

3. intensely desirous; eager

   anxious for promotion

Other Word Forms

• anxiously adverb
• anxiousness noun
• quasi-anxious adjective
• unanxious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anxious¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin anxius “worried, distressed,” derivative of angere “to strangle, pain, distress”; anguish, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of anxious¹

C17: from Latin anxius; related to Latin angere to torment; see _anger , _anguish

Example Sentences

Mr. Carlson’s willingness to challenge GOP talking points made him appealing to economically anxious and culturally alienated young men.

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I was anxious for him to feel as little displaced as possible.

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The Federal Reserve’s latest so-called beige book report, which compiles economic anecdotes from the 12 regional Fed banks, said that some businesses were “anxious about the upcoming holiday season.”

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I am anxious to eat a stake dinner, & lots of hot dogs.

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Bouret was right—I couldn’t really feel anxious about sending emails while driving, if only because I was so anxious about…driving.

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Related Words

• afraid 
• apprehensive 
• careful 
• concerned 
• distressed 
• fearful 
• fidgety 
• jittery 
• nervous 
• restless 
• scared 
• uneasy 
• uptight