anxious
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for anxious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Feeling nervous or worried, especially about something uncertain or upcoming.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use anxious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin anxius, from angere ("to choke, cause pain") — the same root gives us "anger" and "anguish."
Full origin of anxious →Frequently asked questions
What does “anxious” mean?
The word “anxious” means feeling nervous or worried, especially about something uncertain or upcoming. In plain terms, nervous or worried — or, in a slightly different sense, keenly eager.
How do you pronounce “anxious”?
“Anxious” is pronounced ANGK-shuhs (/ˈeɪ̯ŋkʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “anxious” in a sentence?
Here is “anxious” used in a sentence: “She was anxious about her exam results.”
What part of speech is “anxious”?
“Anxious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “anxious” come from?
The word “anxious” comes from Latin. From Latin anxius, from angere ("to choke, cause pain") — the same root gives us "anger" and "anguish.".
Is “anxious” a common word?
“Anxious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “anxious” have?
“Anxious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling nervous or worried, especially about something uncertain or upcoming.
What is the difference between anxious and eager?
Eager means keenly wanting something in a positive way, while anxious traditionally means nervous or worried. Anxious can also mean eagerly wanting something, but with a hint of unease or impatience, so "anxious to start" carries more tension than "eager to start."
What is the difference between anxious and nervous?
Nervous describes a temporary jittery feeling, often before a specific event, while anxious suggests deeper or more lasting worry, especially about something uncertain or upcoming. The two overlap, but anxious tends to feel heavier and more sustained.
What prepositions are used with anxious?
Anxious is commonly followed by "about" for worry, as in "anxious about the exam," and by "for" or "to" for eager wanting, as in "anxious for news" or "anxious to leave." The preposition helps signal which meaning is intended.