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nervous

nervous

1.3
Feeling worried and easily frightened
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɜrvəs/
translation icon : nervioso
  • I get really nervous when I get up on stage.
  • get nervous
  • make someone nervous
  • a nervous breakdown

I got a little nervous but that's OK.

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Examples

  • But I was a little nervous, but they were great.

  • Everyone was so nervous and I got the part.

  • So if you are nervous, hold on to it.

  • Are you nervous about that?

  • Are you nervous right now, or do you get nervous in class sometimes?

    Academic text (2013)
  • I could never do that; it makes me nervous to take pictures of people.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Some were a little nervous about the storm.

  • I still remember how nervous I was, but we worked it out very professionally.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Even in a large ensemble situation, our students do get nervous in performance.

    Academic text (2013)
  • I get really nervous when I get up on stage.

Synonyms

afraid
vsnervous
1.0

Feeling fear or worry about something

is broader, adding anxious excitement and sensitivity beyond fear
scared
vsnervous
1.0

Feeling afraid because you think something bad might happen

also covers milder unease and sensitivity without an obvious threat
worried
vsnervous
1.0

Feeling nervous or upset about something that may go wrong

is more general unease that can include sudden agitation
tense
vsnervous
310 3.6

Feeling nervous and unable to relax

includes that tension but also sudden startled reactions
anxious
vsnervous
201 2.7

Feeling worried or nervous about something that might happen

is broader, also covering quick excitement or sensitivity
fearful
vsnervous
143 1.3

Feeling afraid or nervous and easily frightened

is wider, including general anxiousness and easy agitation
uneasy
vsnervous
98 3.2

You feel worried and not relaxed

adds quick excitability or sensitivity to that discomfort
uptight
vsnervous
  • Informal
77 5.0

Nervous and tense so you cannot relax

can also mean easily excited or sensitive under pressure
jumpy
vsnervous
  • Informal
54 4.3

Feeling nervous and easily startled by sudden sounds

can include being easily startled but also slow-building worry
agitated
vsnervous
49 4.1

Feeling nervous, upset, and not calm

is broader, also including quiet worry or mild excited tension
edgy
vsnervous
41 5.2

Feeling nervous and tense, easily upset

covers that tendency and milder overall anxiety
jittery
vsnervous
26 4.5

Feeling nervous and unable to stay still

may include those signs but also calmer unease and worry
skittish
vsnervous
25 7.0

Easily frightened or nervous and likely to move suddenly

is general nervousness that can explain sudden excitability
flustered
vsnervous
14 4.1

Being nervous and confused because of an unexpected problem or pressure

is broader, covering both sudden upset and steady unease
twitchy
vsnervous
  • Informal
9 4.6

Feeling nervous and unable to stay still

is broader, adding anxious feelings beyond physical twitching
fidgety
vsnervous
8 4.8

Unable to stay still because you feel nervous

also covers that restlessness but can be more fear driven
aflutter
vsnervous
3 7.9

Feeling excited and a little nervous

also covers true anxiety or being easily agitated by fear
frightened
vsnervous
3 1.0

Being afraid because something seems dangerous

is broader, including milder worry and quick agitation without danger
fluttery
vsnervous
2 4.9

Feeling nervous and excited with a quick, shaky feeling in the body

is wider, including stronger worry and sharper fear responses
rattled
vsnervous
  • Informal
1 7.0

Feeling nervous and confused after a sudden, unexpected event

is not limited to sudden shocks and includes ongoing worry
timorous
vsnervous
  • Formal
1 8.6

Feeling nervous and lacking confidence in new situations

is broader, also meaning quick excitability from sensitivity

Antonyms

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

241 1.0

Calm and not worried

Compounds

nervous system
  • Specialized
81 2.8

A network of nerves that sends messages between the brain and body to control movement and feeling

52 5.3

A time when someone is so stressed or upset they cannot live normally and need medical help

24 3.2

The brain and spinal cord that control the body and mind

2 4.2

The part of the body that controls heart rate, breathing and digestion without thinking

nervous disorder
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A health problem that affects the brain and nerves and causes symptoms like pain or numbness

nervous tissue
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Tissue made of cells that send signals through the body to control movement and feeling

1 7.4

Extreme mental and physical tiredness after long stress or worry

1 4.2

The nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that send messages between the brain and other body parts

1 4.9

Part of the body that prepares you for action by raising heart rate and sending blood to muscles

A feeling of being very nervous and tired after a long time of stress

nervous impulse
  • Specialized
1 5.8

An electrical message that travels along a nerve to carry information

tad nervous
  • Informal
1 6.3

A little worried about something new or difficult

A sudden strong feeling of worry or loss of confidence

9.9

Extreme mental and physical tiredness from stress that stops you from doing normal daily activities

The part of the nervous system that calms the body, slows the heart, and helps digestion

How Nervous

panicked
16 4.6
agitated
49 4.1
anxious
201 2.7
nervous
1.3
uneasy
98 3.2

Surface Forms

nervous positive
nervouser comparative
nervousest superlative

Morphology

nervous = nerve (semi-transparent) = nerv + ous

While the word is derived from 'nerve', the emotional sense of 'anxiety or worry' is a metaphorical extension.

Etymology

Nervous comes from Latin nervus 'sinew, nerve', the same root as the English word nerve, and because tense nerves feel like tight strings, nervous now means 'easily worried or jumpy'.