nervous
Americanadjective
-
highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive.
to become nervous under stress.
-
of or relating to the nerves.
nervous tension.
-
affecting the nerves.
nervous diseases.
-
experiencing, characterized by, or originating in a nervous system disorder.
-
characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension.
a nervous moment for us all.
-
having or containing nerves.
-
sinewy or strong.
-
Archaic. vigorous or spirited.
adjective
-
very excitable or sensitive; highly strung
-
(often foll by of) apprehensive or worried
I'm nervous of traffic
-
of, relating to, or containing nerves; neural
nervous tissue
-
affecting the nerves or nervous tissue
a nervous disease
-
archaic active, vigorous, or forceful
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nervous
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin nervōsus “sinewy,” equivalent to nerv(us) nerve + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
You know that queasy, uneasy feeling you get before a test? That's a nervous feeling. Everyone gets nervous sometimes. Being nervous is a major part of life that everyone has to deal with at times. Some people are more nervous than others, but we all get nervous about certain things — for example, having to perform in front of a crowd makes most people nervous. Getting interviewed for a job is a nervous experience. When the stock market keeps going up or down, you could say it's a nervous stock market. Nervous also applies to the body's nervous system, which includes your brain, spinal cord, and the nerves throughout your body. If you think you injured your nervous system, that's a good reason to be nervous.
Vocabulary lists containing nervous
Emotions on Display
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!
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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!
Yikes! Synonyms for "Scared"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“Your nervous system isn’t asking for perfection,” the caption read.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Cells lining blood vessels in the brain contain a transporter called GLUT1 that normally carries glucose into the central nervous system.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
"Stepping onto the first tee is a very special experience at an Open in Southport for me. I was pretty nervous, to be honest."
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Farzin Azarm, managing director of equities trading at Mizuho Securities, said the recent selloff in South Korean stocks has started to make him nervous.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026
I stay in my seat, too nervous to leave the car yet.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
