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anxious

Pronunciation: /ˈaŋ(k)ʃəs/

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Definition of anxious

adjective

  • 1feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome:she was extremely anxious about her exams an anxious look
  • [attributive] (of a situation or period of time) causing or characterized by worry or nervousness:there were some anxious moments
  • 2very eager or concerned to do something or for something to happen:the company was anxious to avoid any trouble [with clause]:my parents were anxious that I get an education

Derivatives

anxiously

adverb

anxiousness

noun

Origin:

early 17th century: from Latin anxius (from angere 'to choke') + -ous

Spelling help

Remember that anxious and the related word anxiety are spelled with an x after the n.

anxious in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of anxious in the US English dictionary