VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

nervous

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈnɜːvəs/
US/ˈnɜːrvəs/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Feeling worried or uneasy, especially before something uncertain, difficult, or important.

    Grammar: Usually follows a linking verb: felt nervous before the exam; can be before a noun in nervous smile.

    Patterns

    • nervous about something
    • nervous before something
    • feel nervous

    She felt nervous before her driving test.

    He gave a nervous smile and began to speak.

    I get nervous about speaking in public.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounmedicalbiology

    Relating to the nerves of the body or to the system that carries signals to and from the brain.

    Grammar: Mostly used before nouns in science and health: nervous system, nervous tissue.

    Patterns

    • nervous system
    • nervous tissue
    • central nervous system

    The nervous system controls movement and sensation.

    Doctors studied damage to nervous tissue.

Common combinations

nervous about
The students were nervous about the results.
feel nervous
It is normal to feel nervous on the first day.
nervous wreck
Before the interview, he was a nervous wreck.
nervous system
The brain is part of the nervous system.

Synonyms and how they differ

anxious
Often deeper or longer-lasting worry; nervous is common for short situations like tests.
apprehensive
More formal and focused on expecting something unpleasant.
jittery
Informal and emphasizes restless physical unease rather than general worry.
tense
Highlights tight physical or emotional strain, while nervous centers on uneasy anticipation.

Opposites

calmrelaxedconfident

Word family

nervously adverb
In a worried, uneasy way.
nervousness noun
The feeling of being worried or uneasy.
nerve noun
A fiber that carries signals in the body; also courage in informal use.

Commonly confused: nervous or anxious? nervous or neurotic?

nervous vs anxious

Anxious can mean eager in some contexts; nervous usually only means uneasy.

nervous vs neurotic

Neurotic suggests persistent unhealthy anxiety, often stronger and more clinical than nervous.

Practice

Choose the best completion: Mara felt nervous ___ her first presentation.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “nervous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words