💧 To perspire 💦 A body fluid 😰 Nervous state 💪 Hard effort 🧊 Surface moisture

sweat

69 2.6

A feeling of nervous worry before something important

noun
/swɛt/

Informal

: sudor frío

"I begin to breathe heavily and I wake up in a cold sweat.

But even he was having a sweat up serious.

Examples

Why do you think Zelda's in such a sweat?

Singin' in the Rain (1952)
As the deadline approached, the constant sweat in his stomach made it hard to focus.
You got a little bit of a sweat going on, honey.

Late Night with the Devil (2024)
I sit there in a sweat.

The Break-Up (2006)
If something happens, I am convinced that it was my concern, worry, sweat, insomnia.
Many nights I would gasp awake, drenched with sweat, from a dream of making a fatal error in the air.

Fiction book (1994)
Beads of sweat line his upper lip as he nervously glances about the room.

Fiction book (1991)
She felt a wave of sweat wash over her as she waited for the interview to begin.
After hours of worry, he finally confessed that he was in a sweat about the upcoming exam.

Synonyms

nervousness

vssweat

33 2.7

A feeling of being worried or anxious

is a more agitated state specifically caused by worry

stew

vssweat

Informal

3 7.2

A state of worry and upset about something

is focused on anxious agitation rather than excitement

fret

vssweat

1 5.9

A feeling of worry that keeps a person from relaxing

is similar but often lacks long lasting worry

Antonyms

calm

106 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

composure

34 5.1

Calm control of your feelings and actions in a difficult situation

Idioms

don't sweat it

Informal

32 7.4

Tell someone not to worry because it is not a problem

to break a sweat

Informal

24 4.1

To start sweating from hard work or to need to try hard

to sweat the small stuff

Informal

4 7.7

Worry too much about small, unimportant things

to sweat bullets

Informal

4 8.8

To feel very nervous before something difficult or scary

to sweat the details

Informal

2 6.7

To worry too much about small, unimportant things

sweat of one's brow

Literature

1 5.8

Hard work done to earn money or achieve something

to sweat bricks

Informal

9.9

To feel very nervous while waiting for something important

Compounds

cold sweat

15 3.7

A sweat that appears while you feel cold because you are scared or ill

sweat suit

9 2.0

A matching set of loose, comfortable clothes with sweatpants and a sweatshirt for exercise or casual wear

sweat gland

Specialized

4 2.7

A tiny part in the skin that puts out liquid to cool your body

sweat sock

3 2.4

A thick absorbent sock worn during sport to soak up sweat

sweat equity

Jargon

3 6.7

Value you earn by working on a house or business yourself

armpit sweat

1 2.3

Wetness under the arms that appears when you are hot

sweat duct

Specialized

1 3.7

A tiny tube in the skin that carries salty liquid from a gland to the outer skin

sweat house

1 7.4

A small hut used for steam baths to clean the body and spirit

sweat room

1 5.8

A hot room like a sauna where steam makes you sweat and relax

sweat bag

8.6

A bag with tiny holes that cools water as it evaporates

How Nervous

to panic

381 2.3

sweat

Informal

69 2.6

nervousness

33 2.7

unease

21 4.4

calmness

11 2.7

Surface Forms

sweat singular

sweats plural

Etymology

Sweat meaning 'a state of nervous worry' comes from the fact people often sweat when they are anxious, so being 'in a sweat' means you are very worried or nervous.