anxiously
Americanadverb
-
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
Etymology
Origin of anxiously
Vocabulary lists containing anxiously
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
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Spelling Practice, Unit 2
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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.
Instead, he seemed a good, flustered company man anxiously determined to be normal—like Dick Van Dyke, perhaps, or Bob Newhart—while remaining very funny indeed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
As David and Ally anxiously await the verdict of the trial, one key question remains unanswered - what will happen to Marcus and the other babies.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
On the bank of one of its branches, farmer Federica Vidali looked anxiously at her sunflower field.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
Wagler anxiously bounced his legs after Silver announced to the crowd that the Washington Wizards had five minutes to make the first selection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Each month, patients anxiously await their test results to find out if they still have active cases of leprosy.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
