nervous

nervous
adjective
1 worried or frightened about something that may happen so that you cannot relax
(+ about): I was so nervous about my exams that I couldn't sleep (+ of): Jill's always been a little nervous of dogs.
2 often becoming worried or frightened and easily upset: She's a nervous, sensitive child. | nervous wreck (=someone whose health and confidence have been destroyed by worry, fear etc): This job is turning me into a nervous wreck. | of a nervous disposition: This film is unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition.
3 nervous exhaustion/strain etc a mental condition in which you feel very tired, usually caused by working too hard or by difficult emotional problems
4 related to the nerves in your body: a nervous disorder
— nervously adverb: She smiled nervously. — nervousness noun (U): Minelli's nervousness showed in his voice. USAGE NOTE: NERVOUS WORD CHOICE: nervous, uneasy, concerned, anxious, worried You are nervous about something difficult or strange that you are doing, or when you are worried and a little frightened about something that might happen or is going to happen, so that you cannot relax: Don't drive so fast - you're making me nervous! | She gets nervous about walking home alone late at night. You are uneasy when you are unable to relax because you think but do not know for certain that something bad is happening or is going to happen: When Jody didn't call for the next three days I started to get uneasy. You are concerned when there is a problem or when someone has a problem that you wish you could do something about: I'm rather concerned about Harvey's health. Worried is stronger. If you are worried you are unhappy and cannot stop thinking about a problem or about something bad that might happen: Martha's very worried about her son's disappearance. Anxious is stronger still. You are anxious when you are very worried and frightened about something that is happening or might happen: the little girl's anxious face as she searched the crowds for her mother

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nervous — Nerv ous (n[ e]rv [u^]s), a. [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See {Nerve}.] 1. Possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. Nervous arms. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nervous — may refer to: The nervous system Nervous (song), a rockabilly/doo wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 Nervous Records, a UK record label Nervous Records (US), a US record label See also Nervousness , a song by the… …   Wikipedia

  • nervous — (adj.) c.1400, affecting the sinews, from L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous, from nervus sinew, nerve (see NERVE (Cf. nerve)). Meaning of or belonging to the nerves in the modern sense is from 1660s. Meaning suffering disorder of the nervous system is …   Etymology dictionary

  • nervous — index suspicious (distrustfui), unsettled Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • nervous — 1 *vigorous, lusty, energetic, strenuous Analogous words: forceful, forcible, potent, *powerful: *spirited, mettlesome: virile, manly (see MALE) 2 *impatient, restless, restive, unquiet, uneasy, fidgety, jumpy, jittery …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • nervous — [adj] anxious, fearful afraid, agitated, annoyed, apprehensive, basket case*, bothered, concerned, distressed, disturbed, edgy, excitable, fidgety, fitful, flustered, fussy*, hesitant, high strung*, hysterical, irritable, jittery*, jumpy*, nervy* …   New thesaurus

  • nervous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) easily agitated or alarmed. 2) apprehensive or anxious. 3) relating to or affecting the nerves. DERIVATIVES nervously adverb nervousness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • nervous — [nʉr′vəs] adj. [ME neruous < L nervosus] 1. Obs. strong; sinewy 2. vigorous in expression; animated 3. of the nerves 4. made up of or containing nerves 5. characterized by or having a disordered state of the nerves 6 …   English World dictionary

  • nervous — ner|vous W3S3 [ˈnə:vəs US ˈnə:r ] adj 1.) worried or frightened about something, and unable to relax →↑anxious nervous about ▪ She was so nervous about her exams that she couldn t sleep. ▪ I wish you d stop looking at me like that. You re making… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • nervous */*/ — UK [ˈnɜː(r)vəs] / US [ˈnɜrvəs] adjective Metaphor: When you feel nervous it is like being pulled, tied or stretched tightly. When you relax, it is like becoming loose again. I was feeling a bit tense. ♦ I find running is a good way to release… …   English dictionary

  • nervous — nerv|ous [ nɜrvəs ] adjective ** 1. ) feeling excited and worried, or slightly afraid: ANXIOUS: Driving on icy mountain roads makes me nervous. get nervous: I got very nervous waiting for my turn to be called. nervous about: She was nervous about …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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