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

sweat

68 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

36 2.7

A feeling of being worried or anxious

is a more agitated state specifically caused by worry

stew

vssweat

Informal

8 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

52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

composure

38 5.1

Calm control of your feelings and actions in a difficult situation

Idioms

to break a sweat

Informal

20 4.1

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

to sweat bullets

Informal

5 8.8

To feel very nervous before something difficult or scary

to sweat the small stuff

Informal

4 7.7

Worry too much about small, unimportant things

don't sweat it

Informal

1 7.4

Tell someone not to worry because it is not a problem

sweat of one's brow

Literature

1 5.8

Hard work done to earn money or achieve something

to sweat the details

Informal

1 6.7

To worry too much about small, unimportant things

to sweat bricks

Informal

9.9

To feel very nervous while waiting for something important

Compounds

cold sweat

12 3.7

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

sweat suit

5 2.0

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

sweat gland

Specialized

3 2.7

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

sweat equity

Jargon

2 6.7

Value you earn by working on a house or business yourself

sweat sock

2 2.4

A thick absorbent sock worn during sport to soak up sweat

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

7.4

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

sweat bag

8.6

A bag with tiny holes that cools water as it evaporates

sweat room

5.8

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

How Nervous

to panic

272 2.3

sweat

Informal

68 2.6

nervousness

36 2.7

unease

19 4.4

calmness

9 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.