# worry

/ˈwɝi/ (US) · /wˈʌɹi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to feel anxious

verb · CEFR A2

to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy.

For teachers: to experience mental distress or anxiety regarding potential or actual problems. Often used intransitively with the preposition 'about'.

- Don't worry about the rain; we can have the party inside instead.
- She spent the entire weekend worrying about the upcoming performance review, despite her manager's repeated assurances that her work was excellent.

### 2. to make someone anxious

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone else feel unhappy or afraid that something bad will happen.

For teachers: to cause mental agitation or distress in another person. Transitive — takes a direct object.

- It worries me that he hasn't called to say he arrived safely.
- The sudden drop in market confidence worried the investors, leading many to withdraw their capital before the end of the fiscal quarter.

### 3. to pull or bite repeatedly

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to pull, bite, or shake something repeatedly with the teeth.

For teachers: to seize, shake, or pull at something repeatedly with the teeth, typically of a dog or predator.

- The puppy started to worry the old slipper until it finally tore.
- The terrier continued to worry the rag doll, shaking it violently from side to side as if it were live prey.

Usage: Often used in the context of hunting or a dog playing with a toy.

### 4. the feeling of anxiety

noun · CEFR B1

the uncomfortable feeling you have when you are thinking about problems.

For teachers: a state of mental distress or anxiety caused by concern over problems.

- The constant worry about money was starting to affect his health.
- Years of financial worry had etched deep lines into his face, giving him an appearance far older than his actual age.

### 5. a specific problem

noun · CEFR B1

a specific problem or situation that makes you feel anxious.

For teachers: a specific cause or instance of anxiety. Countable in this sense.

- Health insurance is just one more worry for people who lose their jobs.
- The director had many worries on her mind, ranging from the technical failure of the equipment to the lead actor's sudden illness.

## Examples

- Financial worry keeps him awake at night.
- The main worry for the local community is the potential closure of the only grocery store in town.
- While some degree of worry can motivate proactive planning, chronic anxiety often leads to a paralysis of decision-making that exacerbates the very problems one fears.

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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.