# angst

/ˈɑŋkst/ (US) · /ˈæŋst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/angst
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. general anxiety

noun · CEFR B2

a deep feeling of worry or anxiety about your life, your future, or the state of the world.

For teachers: a feeling of acute but vague anxiety or apprehension, often philosophical in nature or related to one's place in the world.

- Many young people feel a sense of angst about the future of the planet.
- The novel perfectly captures the existential angst of a generation struggling to find meaning in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

### 2. emotional fiction

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

stories or art that focus on characters feeling very sad, angry, or upset.

For teachers: a subgenre of fiction or fan fiction characterized by characters experiencing intense emotional turmoil and interpersonal conflict.

- I prefer reading stories with a lot of angst and complicated relationships.
- The author is well-known in online communities for writing heavy angst that explores the darker side of her characters' backstories.

### 3. to worry or fret

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to spend a lot of time worrying or feeling anxious about something.

For teachers: to experience or express deep anxiety; to fret or brood over a situation.

- There is no point angsting over a decision you have already made.
- He spent the entire weekend angsting about the presentation, despite his colleagues' assurances that he was well-prepared.

## Examples

- The movie captures the angst of being a teenager.
- Many young adults feel a sense of career angst as they struggle to find meaningful work in a competitive market.
- The novel explores the existential angst of a protagonist who feels increasingly alienated from a society that values material success over spiritual fulfillment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.