anxious

adjective

anx·​ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs 

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

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of anxious

• worried
• nervous
• upset
• uneasy
• apprehensive
• troubled

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Emboldened by her sudden fame, Tyler signed to Sony in the early 1980s and, anxious to reinvent herself, petitioned the bombastic songwriter Jim Steinman to plot her a pivot to arena rock. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026

Canberra and Wellington are two of the South Pacific's biggest powers and have grown anxious about Beijing's attempts to vie for sway in the region. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

Meanwhile, though, some anxious neighbors are saying just take the whole thing down to make sure that another — possibly disastrous — collapse doesn’t occur. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026

The research behind scent training for dogs A growing body of evidence suggests that scent work is one of the most effective and accessible forms of enrichment available for anxious dogs. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin anxius "worried, disturbed, uneasy, marked by or inducing anxiety or distress" (adjective derivative from the base of angere "to choke, cause pain to, afflict, vex") + -ous — more at anger entry 1

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

anxious

adjective

anx·​ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs 

1

: afraid or nervous about what may happen : worried

anxious about their son's health

2

: desiring earnestly

anxious to make good

anxiously adverb

anxiousness noun

Medical Definition

anxious

adjective

anx·​ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs 

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