Anxious vs We were that worried about you

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

Anxious

Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective

We were that worried about you

Top 2,000 (common)
 AnxiousWe were that worried about you
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈæŋkʃəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæŋkʃəs/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː wər ðæt ˈwʌrid əˈbaʊt juː//🇺🇸 //wi wɜr ðæt ˈwɜrid əˈbaʊt ju//
MeaningWorried or nervous about something.We were very concerned about you.
ExampleShe felt anxious about the upcoming exam.We were that worried about you when you didn't call.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsappear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, forthat worried, worried about, really worried, genuinely worried, extremely worried
Antonymscalm, relaxed, composed-
Common mistakesConfusing 'anxious' with 'eager', which means excited or looking forward to something., Using 'anxious' without a preposition; it should be 'anxious about' or 'anxious for'., Thinking 'anxious' always means worry, not recognizing it can imply a strong desire in certain contexts.Using 'that' unnecessarily when it can be omitted., 'Worried' often confused with 'worriedly' as an adjective.
Usage notesUsed when feeling nervous or uneasy about a situation. Generally appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but in very casual settings, some might use 'worried' instead.This phrase expresses concern for someone's well-being. It's appropriate in both spoken and written communication among friends or acquaintances.

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We were that worried about you

Frequently asked questions: Anxious vs We were that worried about you

What's the difference between Anxious and We were that worried about you?

Anxious: Worried or nervous about something. We were that worried about you: We were very concerned about you.

Can you show an example of each?

Anxious: She felt anxious about the upcoming exam. We were that worried about you: We were that worried about you when you didn't call.

Can I use Anxious and We were that worried about you interchangeably?

Not always. Anxious and We were that worried about you 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.

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