Headway's Word of the Week archive
⇒ Learn this week's word.
nervous
If you feel nervous, you are not confident
about something, or you feel a little afraid.
- I have a job interview tomorrow. I feel really nervous
about it.
- I'm nervous about staying here alone tonight.
Will you stay with me?
It can also be used to describe a feeling of tension or
excitement you can't bear.
- If he misses the penalty, my team will be out of
the competition. I'm so nervous I can't watch.
Or it means `of the body's nerves'.
- We studied the nervous system in Biology
at school.
Check out its collocations
a nervous laugh
nervous energy
a nervous breakdown
nervous tension
a nervous glance
nervous exhaustion
a nervous wreck
(= a person who is very nervous)
Check out words with the same root
Nervy (adjective)
- She's a very nervy person. Always biting
her nails, and her voice shakes if she has to make
a speech.
(= anxious/unconfident)
Nerve-racking (adjective)
- I had to sit outside her office, waiting to hear
if I had been offered the job. It was really nerve-racking.
(= causing nervous strain)
Nerveless (adjective)
- Schumacher is a nerveless driver. Nothing
worries him.
(=brave/never nervous)
Check out related words
- anxious
- worried
- tense
- excited
- concerned
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