Nervous: meaning, definitions and examples

😬
Add to dictionary

nervous

 

[ ˈnɜːrvəs ]

Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling anxious or worried

Feeling nervous is a common reaction to stressful situations. It is characterized by a sense of unease, apprehension, or tension. People may experience physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, or a racing heart.

Synonyms

anxious, apprehensive, worried

Examples of usage

  • I always get nervous before a job interview.
  • She was too nervous to speak in front of the large audience.
  • Don't be nervous, everything will be fine.
  • He could feel his nervousness increasing as the deadline approached.
  • I could hear the nervousness in her voice as she answered the phone.
Context #2 | Adjective

easily agitated or startled

Being nervous can also refer to being easily agitated or startled. It implies a state of heightened sensitivity to external stimuli, often resulting in quick reactions.

Synonyms

agitated, jittery, startled

Examples of usage

  • The cat was nervous around strangers and would hide.
  • He was nervous around loud noises due to his sensitive hearing.
  • Her nervous disposition made her jump at the slightest sound.

Translations

Translations of the word "nervous" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nervoso

🇮🇳 नर्वस

🇩🇪 nervös

🇮🇩 gugup

🇺🇦 нервовий

🇵🇱 nerwowy

🇯🇵 緊張している

🇫🇷 nerveux

🇪🇸 nervioso

🇹🇷 sinirli

🇰🇷 긴장한

🇸🇦 عصبي

🇨🇿 nervózní

🇸🇰 nervózny

🇨🇳 紧张的

🇸🇮 živčen

🇮🇸 taugaveiklaður

🇰🇿 жүйкесі жұқарған

🇬🇪 ნერვული

🇦🇿 sinirli

🇲🇽 nervioso

Etymology

The word 'nervous' originates from the Latin word 'nervosus', meaning 'sinewy' or 'nervous'. It was first used in English in the 14th century to describe a condition related to the nerves. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the modern sense of feeling anxious or easily agitated.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,978, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.