anxious

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adjective anx·ious \ˈaŋ(k)-shəs\

Definition of anxious

1 : characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency : worried anxious parents
2 : characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety : worrying They spent an anxious night.
3 : ardently or earnestly wishing She was anxious to learn more.

anxiously

adverb

anxiousness

noun

See anxious defined for English-language learners

See anxious defined for kids

Examples of anxious in a Sentence

… to the eye anxious for reform in the city and forgetful of conditions in the countryside … —Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win. —Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000
The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens … —Atlantic, May 1997
He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste. —John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957
She feels anxious and depressed.
People are anxious about the future.
He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party.
We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test.
It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home.
He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face.
He was anxious for more news.

Recent Examples of anxious from the Web

More than eight out of 10 travelers are anxious about their safety, according to the latest Global Rescue Travel Safety Survey.

— christopher elliott, The Seattle Times, "These gadgets and apps may help you travel worry-free", 2 June 2017
For all their resilience, equity investors remain anxious about an economy that has recently given uneven evidence of its vigor just as the Federal Reserve prepares to raise interest rates.

— lu wang, Bloomberg.com, "Stuck for Months, S&P 500 Manages Weekly Gain for Restless Bulls", 2 June 2017
Musician friends of hers knew Pate was anxious to return to New Orleans and buy another home, albeit in a drier area.

— christy lorio nola.com | the times-picayune, NOLA.com, "A thoughtful renovation adds clever storage to a Carrollton cottage: Personal Space", 1 June 2017
Marston was capitalizing on one of his time’s many similarities to our own: His was an age that, too, was anxious about the future of truth.

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "Wonder Woman, Heroine of the Post-Truth Age", 1 June 2017
Students squirm in their seats, anxious to toss that cap up, shrug that robe off, and get on with it.

— beth thames, AL.com, "Grateful for a graduation speech with a musical message", 31 May 2017
There's also social science evidence that suggests people who are curious are likely to be less anxious.

— National Geographic, "These 5 Questions Might Boost Your Curiosity—and Make You Happier", 26 May 2017
For Alaskans anxious for this wintry weather to depart, the news is good within its interior.

— jason samenow, Washington Post, "Memorial Day weekend is almost here, but it’s snowing over parts of Alaska", 26 May 2017
Chocolate can alleviate anxiety, according to a 2009 study during which anxious people who ate 40 grams of chocolate (about five squares) every day for two weeks experienced lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than before the intervention.

— elizabeth narins, Cosmopolitan, "8 Damn Good Reasons to Eat All the Chocolate", 25 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anxious'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager?

The fact that individual words can have multiple senses that are closely related in meaning is something which many people find objectionable about the English language. Anxious is an example of such a word, as people will use it to mean "worried," "eager (but with an undertone of worry)," and simply "eager."

The word has been used in the sense of "eager" for a considerable length of time, with evidence going back at least to the 17th century.

Origin and Etymology of anxious

Latin anxius; akin to Latin angere to strangle, distress — more at anger

NEW!

First Known Use: 1548

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of anxious

eager, avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest. eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint. eager to get started avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed. avid for new thrills keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action. keen on the latest fashions anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment. anxious not to make a social blunder athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action. athirst for adventure

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

ANXIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

anxious

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adjective

Definition of anxious for English Language Learners

: afraid or nervous especially about what may happen : feeling anxiety
: causing or showing fear or nervousness
: wanting or eager to do or have something very much especially because of fear or nervousness

ANXIOUS Defined for Kids

anxious

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adjective anx·ious \ˈaŋk-shəs\

Definition of anxious for Students

1 : afraid or nervous about what may happen The parents were anxious about the child's health.
2 : causing or showing fear or nervousness an anxious moment
3 : wanting very much : eager She is anxious to get home.

anxiously

adverb Her parents waited anxiously for her.

Medical Dictionary

anxious

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adjective anx·ious \ˈaŋ(k)-shəs\

Medical Definition of anxious

1: characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency anxious students
2: characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety an anxious time in the hospital waiting room