fuss

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /fʊs/ UK /fʌs/ See IPA manual

Freq #4771

Meanings

1

noun
Unnecessary worry, excitement, or activity about something small.

They made a big fuss about the wedding plans.
2

verb
To worry or get excited about something more than is needed.

His grandmother never stops fussing over what he eats.
3

verb
To keep touching or adjusting something nervously.

Stop fussing with your hair; it looks fine.
4

noun
A lot of attention or affection shown to someone.

They made a great fuss over the new baby.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · unnecessary worry,... bother commotion ado

2 verb · to worry or get excited... fret

Word family

Forms fussedfussesfussing

Derived forms fuss-budgetfuss-budgetryfussablefussbudgetfussbuttonfusserfusslessfusspotfussy

Appears in

Idioms (1)

See all

kick up a fuss
to react with a noisy, angry complaint, often over a minor issue

Etymology

Of unknown origin. Perhaps from Danish fjas (“nonsense”), from Middle Low German (compare German faseln (“to maunder, talk nonsense”)). Compare also fouse (“to hasten, rush, tumble, disarrange”).

fjas da

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# fuss

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /fʊs/
**IPA (UK):** /fʌs/
**Frequency rank:** 4771

## Meanings
1. Unnecessary worry, excitement, or activity about something small.
2. To worry or get excited about something more than is needed.
3. To keep touching or adjusting something nervously.
4. A lot of attention or affection shown to someone.

## Examples
- They made a big fuss about the wedding plans.
- His grandmother never stops fussing over what he eats.
- Stop fussing with your hair; it looks fine.
- They made a great fuss over the new baby.

## Derived Forms
- fuss-budget
- fuss-budgetry
- fussable
- fussbudget
- fussbutton
- fusser
- fussless
- fusspot
- fussy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: fjas

## Etymology
Of unknown origin. Perhaps from Danish fjas (“nonsense”), from Middle Low German (compare German faseln (“to maunder, talk nonsense”)). Compare also fouse (“to hasten, rush, tumble, disarrange”).

## AI Etymology
Fuss is of unknown origin. Perhaps from Danish fjas (“nonsense”), from Middle Low German (compare German faseln (“to maunder, talk nonsense”)). Compare also fouse (“to hasten, rush, tumble, disarrange”). In current use, the main senses are “Unnecessary worry, excitement, or activity about something small” and “To worry or get excited about something more than is needed”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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