nerve
Americannoun
-
nerves
plural
-
one or more bundles of fibers forming part of a system that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, etc., between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.
-
a sinew or tendon.
to strain every nerve.
-
firmness or courage under trying circumstances.
an assignment requiring nerve;
to lose your nerve at the very last moment.
- Synonyms:
- resolution, fortitude, intrepidity, steadfastness
-
boldness; audacity; impudence; impertinence.
He had the nerve to say that?
-
nerves, nervousness.
an attack of nerves.
-
strength, vigor, or energy.
a test of nerve and stamina.
- Antonyms:
- weakness
-
(not in technical use) pulp tissue of a tooth.
-
Botany. a vein, as in a leaf.
-
a line, or one of a system of lines, extending across something.
verb (used with object)
-
nerves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
nerved,
past participle, past
-
nerving
present participle
idioms
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bundle of nerves. see bundle of nerves.
-
have nerves of steel, to be able to control one’s fear or unease and remain calm and competent, even in the worst of circumstances.
I thought I had nerves of steel, but when we had to dissect a pig, I turned into a jellyfish.
-
get on one's nerves, to irritate, annoy, or provoke one.
Boisterous children get on my nerves.
noun
-
any of the cordlike bundles of fibres that conduct sensory or motor impulses between the brain or spinal cord and another part of the body
-
courage, bravery, or steadfastness
-
to become timid, esp failing to perform some audacious act
-
informal boldness or effrontery; impudence
he had the nerve to swear at me
-
muscle or sinew (often in the phrase strain every nerve )
-
a large vein in a leaf
-
any of the veins of an insect's wing
-
to mention or bring to mind a sensitive issue or subject
verb
-
to give courage to (oneself); steel (oneself)
-
to provide with nerve or nerves
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
nervesimple
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nervessimple
-
have nervedperfect
-
has nervedperfect
-
am nervingprogressive
-
are nervingprogressive
-
is nervingprogressive
-
have been nervingperfect progressive
-
has been nervingperfect progressive
Past
-
nervedsimple
-
had nervedperfect
-
was nervingprogressive
-
were nervingprogressive
-
had been nervingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of nerve
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “nerve, tendon,” from Latin nervus “sinew, tendon”; akin to Greek neûron ( see neuron); replacing Middle English nerf, from Middle French, from Latin, as above
Explanation
A nerve is a group of fibers that send sensation or physical feeling to the brain. Back pain can sometimes be caused by a damaged or pinched nerve. Your body depends on your nerves for sensing pain, heat, and cold — not to mention making it possible for you to move your muscles. You can also use the word nerve to mean bravery or daring: "She didn't know if she'd have the nerve to skydive when she was finally up in the plane." In the 1500s, to nerve was "to ornament with threads." All of these come from a Latin root, nervus, "sinew, tendon, cord, or bowstring."
Vocabulary lists containing nerve
"Raymond's Run"
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Psychology
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
Scientists have known for years that many solid tumors contain extensive nerve networks.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
By prompting nerve growth inside the tumor, the process may contribute to cancer progression and resistance to treatment.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
But Liam Dawson held his nerve to hit the winning runs with a six over mid-wicket, sealing victory with two balls to spare.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
On Saturday I stood in the nerve center of an aircraft carrier sailing in the Arabian Sea and addressed the entire crew on the general announcing system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
“The nerve of that Swanburne woman! I refuse to be intimidated by the ghost of some long-dead headmistress,” she said.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
She says he told her she looked stressed and suggested they take a walk outside to "calm her nerves".
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
“My nerves motivated me, but then they turned around and paralyzed me,” she wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Other research suggests that cancer cells may move along nerves as they leave the original tumor and metastasize.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
"We chatted about all sorts of things, what she was going to do in the UK, how long I'd been doing the show, was I nervous, how she deals with nerves, all of this."
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
The constant bombardment wore on their nerves, made dents in their weapons and food supplies, and deprived them of sleep.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
“He can get a little nerved up in the paddock,” said Shirreffs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2021
Then followed a few scruffy years on local TV, including his celebrated stint as a smart-aleck weatherman, before he nerved himself to head to Los Angeles in 1975.
From New York Times ● Apr. 10, 2017
Less a teen-age Rangerphile than an arachnophobe encountering a tarantula, I nerved myself to walk over to where Lindsay sat and confronted him, boy to man.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 19, 2015
For weeks Washington had been on the alert for the Vinson report, nerved itself this week to hear the report go off, dynamiting the profiteers of World War II.
From Time Magazine Archive
“I needed some fresh air,” I tell him, which is indicative of how nerved up I am.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Last week, in the salty little city of Bath, Me., the moment lor which Mrs. Vanderbilt had been nerving herself finally arrived.
From Time Magazine Archive
Amateur championships nerving himself up to proper pitch.
From Time Magazine Archive
As the story starts, the singer is nerving herself to ask a doctor whether or not she has a cancer.
From Time Magazine Archive
She stood outside nerving herself for the ordeal, knowing her desk would be the only one without flowers.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
Prissy stood nerving herself to speak the words which were in her heart.
From The Suprising Adventures of Sir Toady Lion With Those of General Napoleon Smith by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
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.
