Nervousness
'nɜːrvəsnəs
Definitions
A state of being uneasy, apprehensive, or worried, especially about something that is going to happen or might happen in the future.
'nɜːrvəsnəs
A state of anxiety or apprehension; the feeling of being worried or afraid about what might happen.
His nervousness was evident in his shaky hands and stammering speech.
💡 Simply: It's like when you're super worried or on edge about something. Like, when you're waiting for your test results or before a big game, that feeling is nervousness!
👶 For kids: It's when you feel a little scared or worried about something that might happen.
More Examples
The approaching deadline caused a surge of nervousness among the team members.
She tried to hide her nervousness before going on stage.
How It's Used
"The study explored the relationship between nervousness and performance anxiety."
"She felt a wave of nervousness before the interview."
Idioms & expressions
butterflies in one's stomach
To feel nervous or apprehensive, usually before something important.
"She had butterflies in her stomach before the audition."
on edge
Nervous, anxious, or irritable.
"I was on edge all day, waiting for the exam results."
From 'nervous' + '-ness'. 'Nervous' comes from the Latin 'nervosus', meaning 'sinewy, strong, vigorous', later associated with the nerves of the body and, by extension, emotional states.
Historically, 'nervousness' has been used since the 18th century to describe feelings of anxiety and unease.
Memory tip
Think of feeling like your 'nerves' are on edge, twitchy, and anticipating something stressful.