ENGLISH
REFERENCE

worrying

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈwɝiɪŋ// UK //wˈʌɹɪɪŋ// wor·ry·ing

n. the act of thinking about problems or unpleasant things that might happen. It is the mental process of feeling anxious or uneasy.

n. the process of experiencing anxiety or mental unease regarding potential or actual problems. Often functions as a gerund to describe the habitual state of being anxious.


SIMPLE

Too much worrying can make it hard to sleep at night.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of constant worrying about her finances, she finally decided to see a professional advisor.

COMPLEX

Chronic worrying often manifests as a cognitive loop where the individual anticipates negative outcomes without engaging in productive problem-solving to mitigate them.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From worry + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English werying, equivalent to worry + -ing.

Usage

Frequently used as a gerund; often followed by the preposition 'about'.

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