Word
anxiety
Phoneticsanx·i·ety
US/æŋˈzaɪəti/
UK/æŋzˈaɪəti/
Definitions
01worry or nervousness
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a feeling of being worried or nervous about something in the future.
n. a state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, or apprehension concerning an uncertain event or outcome.
日本語:不安※
“I always feel a bit of anxiety before I have to speak in front of a large group.”
“The sudden change in the company's leadership created a climate of deep anxiety among the long-term employees regarding their job security.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'about' or 'over'.
Pitfall
He has an anxiety about the exam.
He feels anxiety about the exam.
When talking about the general feeling, 'anxiety' is usually uncountable and does not need 'an'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02medical condition
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine
n. a medical condition where you feel very worried or scared most of the time.
n. a psychological disorder characterised by excessive, persistent, and often irrational worry about everyday situations.
日本語:不安※
“She started seeing a therapist to help her manage her social anxiety.”
“Clinical anxiety often manifests through physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, and persistent insomnia.”
Usage
Can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific clinical diagnoses.
Synonyms
03strong desire
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. a strong and nervous wish to do something or to please someone.
n. an eager or distressing desire to achieve something or to satisfy a requirement.
“In his anxiety to finish the project on time, he made several small mistakes.”
“The candidate's obvious anxiety to impress the board occasionally resulted in overly rehearsed and unnatural responses during the interview.”
Usage
Usually followed by an infinitive verb (e.g., 'anxiety to please').
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “anxiety” in context.
Adjective
01. increased anxiety
“The uncertainty of the job market has led to increased anxiety among recent graduates.”
adj + noun
Noun
02. anxiety disorder
“He was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder and began cognitive behavioral therapy.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“Limited research on rodents suggests histamine can affect the parts of the brain involved in anxiety and stress, raising questions about whether it could influence mood-related symptoms.” “Southampton woman Lauren has health anxiety that gets worse during the hot weather.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin anxietās, from anxius (“anxious, solicitous, distressed, troubled”), from angō (“to distress, trouble”), akin to Ancient Greek ἄγχω (ánkhō, “to choke”). Equivalent to anxious + -ety. See anger; angst.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0