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anxious

adjective
anx·​ious | \ ˈaÅ‹(k)-shÉ™s How to pronounce anxious (audio) \

Definition of anxious

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.
Other Words from anxious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager? More Example Sentences Learn More about anxious

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Other Words from anxious

anxiously adverb
anxiousness noun

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

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.

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Institutional investors are getting anxious to cash out before a recession hits. — Polina Marinova, Fortune, "Is the ‘Code Red’ Recession Indicator Simply a False Alarm?: Term Sheet," 10 Sep. 2019 Citizens are increasingly anxious about online fraud. — The Economist, "Chinese netizens get privacy-conscious," 7 Sep. 2019 Arturo and Aurora have been through a great deal of change and naturally are anxious about another move. — Boys & Girls Aid, oregonlive, "Arturo, 5, and Aurora, 4, are hoping to find a calm, consistent family: A Home of Their Own," 31 Aug. 2019 But passengers who get anxious around takeoff may have a new option to calm those nerves. — Anna Washenko, Ars Technica, "British Airways testing VR headsets for first-class passengers this year," 14 Aug. 2019 His sentencing date was originally September 12, but Baumgartel convinced US District Judge Jed Rakoff to agree to an earlier date, explaining that Sayoc was anxious about the matter. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "Cesar Sayoc, who plead guilty to sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, will be sentenced Monday," 5 Aug. 2019 While there are reasons to be anxious about Tesla’s future, John Booth’s focus last week was on getting his Model 3 before the U.S. tax credit toward Tesla purchases shrinks to $1,875 as of July 1. — Bloomberg, latimes.com, "Elon Musk’s quest for Tesla deliveries record could be a double-edged sword," 30 June 2019 Cathay’s predicament shows why global boardrooms are growing more anxious about Chinese anger. — The Economist, "Why China’s assault on Cathay Pacific should scare all foreign firms," 22 Aug. 2019 Even before the national power grab, individuals who had spoken out against the Nazis were anxious about their personal safety. — Klaus Meyer, Quartz, "How to prevent a fascist takeover: Lessons from the Nazi party’s rise to power," 17 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anxious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of anxious

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for anxious

Latin anxius; akin to Latin angere to strangle, distress — more at anger

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More Definitions for anxious

anxious

adjective
How to pronounce anxious (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of anxious

: afraid or nervous especially about what may happen : feeling anxiety
: causing or showing fear or nervousness
: wanting or eager to do or have something very much especially because of fear or nervousness

See the full definition for anxious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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