anxious

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   causing or fraught with or showing anxiety

   spent an anxious night waiting for the test results

2. 2
   adj

   Having a feeling of anxiety or disquietude; extremely concerned, especially about something that will happen in the future or that is unknown.

   She was anxious to hear how her test results were.

3. 3
   adj

   Accompanied with, or causing, anxiety; worrying.

   anxious labor

4. 4
   adj

   Earnestly desirous.

   He is anxious to please, so you can count on him.

5. 5
   adj

   eagerly desirous

6. 6
   adj

   Nervous and worried.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂enǵʰ-der. Proto-Italic *anɣō Latin angō Latin ānxiusbor. English anxious Borrowed from Latin anxius, from angō (“to cause pain, choke”); akin to Ancient Greek ἄγχω (ánkhō, “to choke”). See anger; angst.