anxiety
nouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//æŋˈzaɪ.əti//
- United Kingdom//aŋˈzɑjətɪj//
- Australia//æːŋˈzɑe.əti//
- Australia/[æːŋˈzɑe.əɾi] ~ [ɛːŋ-] ~ [eːŋ-]/
An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event.
noun
- 1
An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event.
generalized anxiety disorder
feel anxiety
cause anxiety
She felt a wave of anxiety before the interview.
- 2
An uneasy or distressing desire (for something). Endeavor (to please).
- 3
A state of restlessness and agitation, often accompanied by a distressing sense of oppression or tightness in the stomach.
- 4
informalAny anxiety disorder, especially generalized anxiety disorder.
My anxiety is a part of me, one that I’ve had to learn to deal with.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin ānxietās, from ānxius (“anxious, solicitous, distressed, troubled”), from angō (“to distress, trouble”), akin to Ancient Greek ἄγχω (ánkhō, “to choke”). Equivalent to anxious + -ety. See anger; angst.
Forms
- plural
- anxieties
anxiety · An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event.
anxious · Nervous and worried.any · To even the slightest extent, at all.Anya · A female given name from Russian or Ukrainian, of modern…