nerve

1 of 2

noun

ˈnərv 

1

: sinew, tendon

strain every nerve

2

: any of the filamentous bands of nervous tissue that connect parts of the nervous system with the other organs, conduct nerve impulses, and are made up of axons and dendrites together with protective and supportive structures

3

a

: power of endurance or control : fortitude, strength

b

: assurance, boldness

also : presumptuous audacity : gall

4

a

: a sore or sensitive point

her remark touched a nerve

b

nerves plural : nervous agitation or irritability : nervousness

a case of nerves

5

: vein sense 2

6

: the sensitive pulp of a tooth

nerve

2 of 2

verb

nerved; nerving

transitive verb

: to give strength or courage to : supply with physical or moral force

Synonyms of nerve

Noun

• gall
• arrogance

Verb

• brace
• fortify
• steel
• ready
• strengthen

Choose the Right Synonym for nerve

temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall, chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness.

temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy

has the cheek to call herself a singer

had the gall to demand proof

the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Examples of nerve in a Sentence

Noun

The optic nerve in the eye allows you to see.

a condition affecting the nerves in her arm

It takes a lot of nerve to start a new career.

He found the nerve to stand up to his boss.

I was going to ask her to the dance, but I lost my nerve.

You have a lot of nerve to talk to me that way.

I can't believe she had the nerve to call me a liar.

Verb

needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Still, there are nerves in what's been considered a Republican stronghold. — CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

Shopping for a jacket when the recipient isn’t standing next to you is nerve-wracking, especially when two of the most popular styles this fall look like siblings. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026

Writing the book has been a very solitary experience—done after Viva falls asleep—and finally getting to squeeze my pals and feel less alone in it is a balm to my nerves. — Tarajia Morrell, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026

The Decline of Resident Pheasant Hunters Johnson, who lives in Watertown, recently wrote a column in the South Dakota Searchlight that dug into this trend — and struck a nerve with locals. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin nervus sinew, nerve; akin to Greek neuron sinew, nerve, nēn to spin — more at needle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1750, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nerve

• abducens nerve
• abducent nerve
• accessory nerve
• auditory nerve
• cranial nerve
• facial nerve
• glossopharyngeal nerve
• hit/strike/touch a nerve
• hypoglossal nerve
• lose one's nerve
• median nerve
• mixed nerve
• nerve agent
• nerve cell
• nerve center
• nerve cord
• nerve ending
• nerve fiber
• nerve gas
• nerve growth factor
• nerve impulse
• nerve net
• nerve-racking
• nerve root
• nerve trunk
• nerve-wracking
• ninth cranial nerve
• oculomotor nerve
• of all the nerve
• olfactory nerve
• optic nerve
• pinched nerve
• sciatic nerve
• spinal nerve
• touch/strike/hit a raw nerve
• trigeminal nerve
• trochlear nerve
• vagus nerve
• vestibulocochlear nerve

Rhymes for nerve

• curve
• mirv
• serve
• swerve
• verve
• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve

Kids Definition

nerve

1 of 2 noun

ˈnərv 

1

: tendon

strain every nerve

2

: one of the stringy bands of nervous tissue connecting the nervous system with other organs and carrying nerve impulses

3

a

: power of endurance or control

a test of mind and nerve

b

: fearless boldness

had the nerve to confront the mysterious stranger

c

: behavior marked by a rude or disrespectful boldness

what nerve of her to say that

4

a

: a sore or sensitive point

that remark hit a nerve

b

plural : a condition of being very nervous : jitters

had a case of the nerves before her performance

5

: a vein in a leaf or in the wing of an insect

6

: the sensitive soft inner part of a tooth

nerved

ˈnərvd

adjective

nerve

2 of 2 verb

nerved; nerving

: to give strength or courage to

Medical Definition

nerve

noun

ˈnərv 

1

: any of the filamentous bands of nervous tissue that connect parts of the nervous system with the other organs, conduct nerve impulses, and are made up of axons and dendrites together with protective and supportive structures and that for the larger nerves have the fibers gathered into funiculi surrounded by a perineurium and the funiculi enclosed in a common epineurium

2

nerves plural : a state or condition of nervous agitation or irritability

3

: the sensitive pulp of a tooth