Definition of nervous
1a
: timid, apprehensive
a nervous smile nervous of strangers
b
: easily excited or irritated : jumpy
… so nervous that he had to be escorted outside court to vomit …— Kevin Johnson and Andrea Stone
c
: of or relating to the nerves
also
: originating in or affected by the nerves
nervous energy a nervous twitch
2a
: tending to produce nervousness or agitation : uneasy
a nervous situation His face was twisted in nervous anticipation.— Dagoberto Gilb
b
: appearing or acting unsteady, erratic, or irregular
—used of inanimate things … climbed carefully into his nervous kayak …— Farley Mowat
3
: of, relating to, or composed of neurons
4
: marked by strength of thought, feeling, or style : spirited
a vibrant tight-packed nervous style of writing
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for nervous
The first known use of nervous was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century