noun

nerve

nurv

noun

A fiber-like bundle in the body that carries signals between the brain and other parts of the body.

"The surgeon worked carefully to avoid damaging the nerve."

Courage or boldness, especially in a difficult or risky situation.

"It took a lot of nerve to speak up in that meeting."

"She finally found the nerve to ask for a raise."

Nervousness or anxious tension, especially before something stressful (often plural: "nerves").

"His nerves were shot before the final exam."

verb

To give someone courage or strength to face something difficult.

"He nerved himself for the difficult conversation ahead."

How to Use Nerve

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the biological fiber that carries signals in the body, or the courage/anxiety associated with the same word.

Common mistake

"Nerve" as courage ("he's got some nerve") and "nerves" as anxiety are opposite-feeling but closely related uses — context tells them apart.

Common pairings

get on someone's nerves lose your nerve nerve-wracking a bundle of nerves

nerved past tense, nerves plural, nerves singular

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The surgeon worked carefully to avoid damaging the _____.

From Latin nervus ("sinew, nerve"), via Medieval Latin. A doublet of "sinew" and "neuron."

serve swerve deserve observe reserve preserve conserve