anxious
- 01 B1 Intermediate
feeling worried or nervous about something that might happen.
experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
Simple“She felt anxious about the job interview and couldn't sleep well.”
In context“The passengers grew increasingly anxious as the pilot announced a further two-hour delay due to deteriorating weather conditions.”
UsageCommonly followed by the preposition 'about'.
PitfallI am anxious for my exam results. I am anxious about my exam results.Use 'about' when you are worried. Use 'for' or 'to' when you are eagerly waiting for something good.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
wanting to do something or wanting something to happen very much.
characterized by extreme eagerness or a strong desire to do something.
Simple“We are anxious to start the project and see the results.”
In context“The board of directors is anxious to resolve the legal dispute before the end of the fiscal year to reassure their investors.”
UsageUsually followed by a 'to' infinitive or the preposition 'for'.
Teacher's tipIn this sense, the word does not necessarily imply fear, but rather a high level of impatience or enthusiasm.
Antonyms
“To be clear, exercise is not a magic fix for anxious thoughts about appearance and performance.”
“In one question, 44% of teens said they feel anxious when they don’t have their phone.”
Borrowed from Latin anxius, from angō (“to cause pain, choke”); akin to Ancient Greek ἄγχω (ánkhō, “to choke”). See anger; angst.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.