Synonyms

anxiously

American

[angk-shuhs-lee, ang-] / ˈæŋk ʃəs li, ˈæŋ- /

adverb

in an uneasy or worried manner.

My first call was to my wife, who had been anxiously awaiting word of my whereabouts.
in an earnestly desirous or eager manner.

They are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child.

Other Word Forms

quasi-anxiously adverb
unanxiously adverb

Etymology

Origin of anxiously

anxious ( def. ) + -ly

Vocabulary lists containing anxiously

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Spelling Practice, Unit 2

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

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.

Burmese TPS holders are waiting anxiously to see how these rulings could impact TPS altogether.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

Larysa Gladka was among hundreds of Ukrainians lining the road stretching towards the northern border, holding flags as they anxiously fixed their gaze at the horizon.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Conflagrations abound—in one, a pair of rabbits anxiously scamper across a road to outrun the flames.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

I am anxiously awaiting my third one in March.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Arjun, tom between a desire to dash back and a craving to hear more from his father, teetered anxiously to and fro on his heels; but Nathan said no more.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023