# anxiety

/æŋˈzaɪəti/ (US) · /æŋzˈaɪəti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anxiety
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. worry or nervousness

noun · CEFR B1

a feeling of being worried or nervous about something in the future.

For teachers: a state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, or apprehension concerning an uncertain event or outcome.

- 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'.

### 2. medical condition

noun · CEFR B2

a medical condition where you feel very worried or scared most of the time.

For teachers: a psychological disorder characterised by excessive, persistent, and often irrational worry about everyday situations.

- 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.

### 3. strong desire

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a strong and nervous wish to do something or to please someone.

For teachers: 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').

## Examples

- She feels a lot of anxiety before big exams.
- The constant delays at the airport cause severe anxiety among the passengers waiting for their connecting flights.
- While acute anxiety serves as an evolutionary mechanism to heighten awareness in dangerous situations, chronic anxiety can severely impair cognitive function and overall well-being.

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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.