Word
nervously
Phoneticsner·vous·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnɝvəsɫi/
UK/nˈɜːvəsli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. to do something in a way that shows you are worried or afraid. You might act this way before a big test or a job interview.
adv. in a manner characterized by apprehension, anxiety, or lack of confidence. Typically describes physical actions or speech patterns that betray internal stress.
Examples
“He waited nervously for his exam results.”
“She tapped her pen nervously against the desk while waiting for the interview to begin.”
“The witness glanced nervously toward the back of the courtroom before answering the prosecutor's pointed question about the night in question.”
Examples
simple
“He waited nervously for his exam results.”
contextual
“She tapped her pen nervously against the desk while waiting for the interview to begin.”
complex
“The witness glanced nervously toward the back of the courtroom before answering the prosecutor's pointed question about the night in question.”
Usage
Typically placed after the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He spoke nervous to the crowd
He spoke nervously to the crowd
Learners often use the adjective 'nervous' instead of the adverb 'nervously' to describe how an action is performed.
Etymology
From nervous + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/nervously