Nervous Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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nervous

[ˈnɜːrvəs ]

Definitions

^{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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nervous	When you feel uneasy or agitated, often before an important event or when speaking in front of people. She felt nervous before her big presentation He gets nervous when flying
anxious	When you feel worried and uneasy about something that might happen in the future, often with a sense of urgency. Generally, ‘anxious’ has a stronger and more prolonged emotional state than ‘nervous’. He's anxious about the results of his medical tests She felt anxious waiting for her turn in the interview
worried	When you feel troubled or concerned about actual or potential problems. This feeling can vary in intensity and duration. She is worried about her health Parents often feel worried when their children don’t return on time
apprehensive	When you have a feeling of fear or concern about something unpleasant that might happen. It generally implies a more thoughtful, anticipatory kind of fear. He felt apprehensive about the new job They were apprehensive about moving to a new city

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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nervous	Use when someone feels worried or anxious about something, often in a general sense or when anticipating a specific event. She felt nervous before her job interview He's always nervous when he has to speak in public
agitated	Use when someone is visibly upset or disturbed, often showing physical signs like restlessness or anger. After the argument, he was too agitated to focus on work The news made him agitated and frustrated
startled	Use when someone is surprised or shocked by something sudden and unexpected. The loud bang startled her He was startled when someone tapped him on the shoulder in the dark
jittery	Use when someone feels a physical sense of restlessness or shakiness, often due to anxiety, fear, or too much caffeine. She felt jittery after drinking too much coffee The unexpected noise made him jittery

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

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'nervous'

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.

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