Dictionary
nervous
adjective ner·vous \ˈnər-vəs\
: having or showing feelings of being worried and afraid about what might happen
: often or easily becoming worried and afraid about what might happen
: causing someone to feel worried and afraid : making someone nervous
Full Definition of NERVOUS
2
: marked by strength of thought, feeling, or style : spirited <a vibrant tight-packed nervous style of writing>
3
: of, relating to, or composed of neurons
4
a : of or relating to the nerves; also : originating in or affected by the nerves <nervous energy> b : easily excited or irritated : jumpy c : timid, apprehensive <a nervous smile> <nervous of strangers>
5
a : tending to produce nervousness or agitation : uneasy <a nervous situation> b : appearing or acting unsteady, erratic, or irregular —used of inanimate things
— ner·vous·ly adverb
— ner·vous·ness noun
See nervous defined for English-language learners
See nervous defined for kids
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First Known Use of NERVOUS
14th century
Related to NERVOUS
Synonym Discussion of NERVOUS
vigorous, energetic, strenuous, lusty, nervous mean having or showing great vitality and force. vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness <as vigorous as a youth half his age>. energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity <an energetic campaigner>. strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging <the strenuous life on an oil rig>. lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment <a lusty appetite for life>. nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor <full of nervous energy>.
Rhymes with NERVOUS
NERVOUS Defined for Kids
nervous
adjective ner·vous \ˈnər-vəs\
Definition of NERVOUS for Kids
1
: having or showing feelings of worry, fear, or anxiety <Having to give a speech makes me nervous.>
2
: easily becoming worried, frightened, or anxious <She's a nervous driver.>
3
: of, relating to, or made up of nerves or nerve cells <nervous tissue>
— ner·vous·ly adverb
— ner·vous·ness noun
Medical Dictionary
nervous
adjective ner·vous \ˈnər-vəs\
Medical Definition of NERVOUS
1
: of, relating to, or composed of neurons <the nervous layer of the eye>
2
a : of or relating to the nerves; also : originating in or affected by the nerves <nervous energy> b : easily excited or irritated
—ner·vous·ly adverb
—ner·vous·ness noun
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