Anxiety

/æŋˈzaɪəti/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonEmotion
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase1 question

Definitions

1

A feeling of unease, nervousness, or worry.

/æŋˈzaɪəti/

nounnegativeBeginner
Emotion

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

He suffered from crippling anxiety.

💡 Simply: Feeling worried or nervous.

More Examples

2

Test anxiety is common among students.

How It's Used

Psychology

"The patient presented with symptoms of acute anxiety."

Everyday Life

"She felt a surge of anxiety before the exam."

Idioms & expressions

to have anxiety

To experience the feeling of anxiety.

"She has anxiety about public speaking."

From Middle English *anxiete*, from Old French *anxiete*, from Latin *anxietas*, from *anxius* "anxious".

Historically, the word 'anxiety' often referred to a state of troubled mind or distress, sometimes with religious connotations.

Memory tip

Think of 'anxious' - anxiety is the feeling of being anxious.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"uneasiness, distress"

severe anxietysocial anxietygeneralized anxietyanxiety disorder

Common misspellings

anxityanxiettyanxietey

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written