nail-biting
Americannoun
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the act or practice of biting one's fingernails, especially as the result of anxiety or nervousness.
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Informal. nervousness.
The announcement that the trade agreement had been signed ended a week of nail-biting on Wall Street.
adjective
noun
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the act or habit of biting one's fingernails
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anxiety or tension
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( as modifier )
nail-biting suspense
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nail-biting
First recorded in 1890–95
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.
Europe and the United States will head into Sunday's decisive Solheim Cup singles level on points after a breathtaking rearguard action by the Americans in a nail-biting afternoon fourball session.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
The nail-biting finale saw the two pairs jumping on an extraction plane from a beach in north Wales, narrowly escaping the hunters.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
This comes after the club slogged to first place last year with a nail-biting mix of narrow victories and excruciating defense.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Its English-language publication stalled after the series was dropped by its original publisher, which means it’s been a wait for readers since the last book’s nail-biting final panels.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
After the war ended, Elizebeth’s work offered no more moments of nail-biting suspense, just endless tedium.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
