anxious

adjective

anx·​ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs How to pronounce anxious (audio)
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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Community shapes people into better versions of themselves Schloegel remembers feeling anxious at the start of his novitiate, the period of living in community with other Augustinians before taking his vows. Jason Derose, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025 In addition to everything else on our plates, Black women are dealing with inflation that is definitely inflationing, layoffs that seem never ending (and quite frankly, for those of us who get to keep our jobs, has us anxious everyday), and a job market that’s increasingly unpredictable. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 1 Oct. 2025 In some moments, Jon sounded anxious that he and Gemini would be separated. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025 Power of Nature was created to close this ‘nature gap’ and help transform the next generation from anxious to adventurous. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anxious

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of anxious was in 1548

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxious. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

anxious

adjective
anx·​ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs How to pronounce anxious (audio)
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 How to pronounce anxious (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on anxious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!