A2adjective 1K

Nervous

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˈnɜːvəs/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˈnɜːrvəs/"]/

Meaning of Nervous

anxious about something or afraid of something

In simple words: Feeling worried or anxious

Nervous in a sentence

• She felt nervous before her speech in front of the class.
• He was so nervous that he couldn't stop tapping his foot.
• The nervous puppy hid behind its owner during the thunderstorm.
• I always get a bit nervous when I have to meet new people.
• Her nervous laughter made it clear that she was uncomfortable in the situation.

How to use Nervous

Used to describe a feeling of anxiety; common in both spoken and written English. Avoid in overly relaxed situations where less formal vocabulary is suitable.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'nerve'—a jangled nerve can make you feel nervous.

Related words

Collocations with Nervous

• appear
• be
• feel
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• about
• at
• of
• appear
• be
• feel
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• about
• at
• of

Synonyms for Nervous

• anxious
• uneasy
• apprehensive
• restless
• jittery

Opposites of Nervous

• calm
• relaxed
• confident

Common mistakes with Nervous

• Confusing with 'excited' as they can feel similar.
• Using 'nervous' when meaning 'angry'.
• Saying 'nervous for' instead of 'nervous about'.

Frequently asked questions about Nervous

What does Nervous mean?

Feeling worried or anxious

What is the definition of Nervous?

anxious about something or afraid of something

How do you use Nervous in a sentence?

She felt nervous before her speech in front of the class.

Can you give another example of Nervous?

He was so nervous that he couldn't stop tapping his foot.

What are synonyms for Nervous?

Common alternatives include anxious, uneasy, apprehensive, restless, jittery.

What is the opposite of Nervous?

Opposite meanings include calm, relaxed, confident.

What words go with Nervous?

It commonly pairs with appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, at, of, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, at, of.

What are common mistakes when using Nervous?

Confusing with 'excited' as they can feel similar. Using 'nervous' when meaning 'angry'. Saying 'nervous for' instead of 'nervous about'.

How do you pronounce Nervous?

US: /["/ˈnɜːrvəs/"]/, UK: /["/ˈnɜːvəs/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Nervous?

Used to describe a feeling of anxiety; common in both spoken and written English. Avoid in overly relaxed situations where less formal vocabulary is suitable.

What CEFR level is Nervous?

"Nervous" is at A2 level on the CEFR scale.