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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Anxious: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：worried or uneasy (anxious)

anxious 🔊

/ˈæŋkʃəs/

adj.

Feeling worried, nervous, or uneasy about something that might happen in the future.

Anxious person feeling worried, biting nails and looking at clock

worried or uneasy 🔊

➕

/ˈwɜːrid ɔːr ʌnˈiːzi/

adj.

Describing a state of concern or nervousness about potential future events.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'anxius' meaning 'troubled', derived from 'angere' meaning 'to choke'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'ankle-shus' – when anxious, your knees might feel shaky.

📖 Example

She felt anxious before her first job interview, constantly checking her notes. 🔊 She was feeling worried and nervous before her initial job interview, repeatedly reviewing her notes.

🔗 Collocations

anxious about – feeling worry regarding something

feel anxious – experience nervousness

anxious look – a facial expression showing worry

🔄 Synonyms

worried (adj.) – concerned about something

nervous (adj.) – easily agitated or anxious

apprehensive (adj.) – anxious or fearful about the future

🚫 Antonyms

calm (adj.) – peaceful and not worried

relaxed (adj.) – free from tension or anxiety

composed (adj.) – having one's feelings under control

🌱 Derivatives

anxiously (adv.) – in a worried or nervous manner

anxiety (n.) – a feeling of worry or nervousness

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'anxious' originates from Latin 'anxius', used to describe distress. In modern English, it commonly appears in psychological contexts for anxiety disorders and daily conversations to express worry or eagerness.

Meaning 2：eager or keen (anxious)

anxious 🔊

/ˈæŋkʃəs/

adj.

Having a strong desire or eagerness to do something or achieve a goal.

Anxious runner eager to start, poised at race starting line

eager or keen 🔊

➕

/ˈiːɡər ɔːr kiːn/

adj.

Having a strong desire or enthusiasm to do something or achieve a goal.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The children were anxious to open their presents on Christmas morning, jumping up and down with excitement. 🔊 The children were very eager to unwrap their presents on Christmas morning, excitedly jumping around.

🔗 Collocations

anxious to do something – eager or impatient to perform an action

anxious for success – having a strong desire to achieve success

look anxious – appear eager or impatient

🔄 Synonyms

eager (adj.) – having a strong desire to do something

keen (adj.) – enthusiastic or interested

impatient (adj.) – restless desire for something to happen

🚫 Antonyms

reluctant (adj.) – unwilling or hesitant to do something

indifferent (adj.) – having no interest or concern

uninterested (adj.) – not interested

🌱 Derivatives

anxiously (adv.) – in a worried or nervous manner

anxiety (n.) – a feeling of worry or nervousness