Anxiety vs Worry

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Anxiety

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 noun

Worry

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

	Anxiety	Worry
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/æŋˈzaɪəti/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/æŋˈzaɪəti/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌri/","/ˈwʌriz/","/ˈwʌrid/","/ˈwʌriɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈwɜːri/","/ˈwɜːriz/","/ˈwɜːrid/","/ˈwɜːriɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	A feeling of worry or fear.	To feel uneasy or anxious about something.
Example	Many people experience anxiety during stressful situations, such as taking exams.	I tend to worry about my exams every time.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	A2
Part of speech	noun	verb
Collocations	acute, considerable, deep, level, arouse, bring, cause, grow, arise, arise from something, attack, disorder, dream, anxiety about, anxiety at, anxiety for, anxiety and depression, fear and anxiety, acute, considerable, deep, level, arouse, bring, cause, grow, arise, arise from something, attack, disorder, dream, anxiety about, anxiety at, anxiety for, anxiety and depression, fear and anxiety	a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about
Antonyms	calm, peace, serenity	calm, relax, dismiss
Common mistakes	Confusing 'anxiety' with 'anxious' - remember 'anxiety' is the noun., Using 'anxiety' to describe simple stress, when it's more about a deeper, chronic feeling., Mispronouncing it as 'anxity' instead of 'an-xi-ety'.	Confused with 'worry' vs 'care' — 'worry' implies anxiety., Incorrectly use 'worrying' as a noun instead of a verb., Using 'worry' without an object, e.g., 'I worry' should be followed by 'about something.'
Usage notes	Use 'anxiety' in situations discussing mental health or stress. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may be too intense for light conversation.	Use 'worry' for general concerns. It's neutral but can sound weak in more serious contexts. Avoid in professional settings unless discussing stress.

See it in real clips

You worry about the diligence, Mr. Reese.

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

I only worry for my mother.

I didn't mean to worry you. Everything's fine.

You worry about the diligence, Mr. Reese.

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

I only worry for my mother.

Worry

Frequently asked questions: Anxiety vs Worry

What's the difference between Anxiety and Worry?

Anxiety: A feeling of worry or fear. Worry: To feel uneasy or anxious about something.

Which is more advanced: Anxiety and Worry?

Anxiety is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Anxiety and Worry the same CEFR level?

Anxiety: B2, Worry: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Anxiety and Worry?

Anxiety: noun, Worry: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Anxiety: Many people experience anxiety during stressful situations, such as taking exams. Worry: I tend to worry about my exams every time.

Can I use Anxiety and Worry interchangeably?

Not always. Anxiety and Worry are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.