nervous
/ˈnɜː.vəs/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Feeling worried, anxious, or slightly afraid about something. It often happens before an event, test, or important talk.
- She felt nervous before the interview.
- I'm nervous about tomorrow's exam.
- He sounded nervous on the phone.
- 2.
Showing worry or tension in your actions, voice, or behavior. It can describe someone who seems uneasy.
- Her nervous smile gave her away.
- He made a nervous laugh.
- The dog looked nervous in the crowd.
Adinary Nuance
Nervous is close to anxious, worried, and tense, but it is often more personal and immediate. Use anxious for stronger or longer-lasting worry, and tense for visible stress in a person or situation. Nervous is very common in everyday speech, especially before events or tests.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lo lắng
- Spanish
- nervioso
- Chinese
- 紧张
- Japanese
- 緊張した
- Korean
- 긴장한
Etymology
Nervous comes from Latin nervosus, from nervus meaning "sinew" or "nerve." In English, it began with the idea of nerves and later developed the sense of anxiety.
Common phrases
feel nervousget nervousnervous aboutnervous breakdown
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between nervous and anxious?
- Nervous is usually about a specific situation, like an exam or speech. Anxious can feel stronger and last longer.
- Is nervous a formal word?
- No, it is common in both speech and writing. It is natural in everyday English.
- Can I say nervous for excitement?
- Yes, sometimes. People may feel nervous and excited at the same time before a big event.
- Is nervous used for people only?
- No. It can also describe a nervous voice, laugh, or behavior.