WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
nerv•ous /ˈnɜrvəs/USA pronunciation
adj.
nerv•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- very uneasy or apprehensive;
fearful;
timid:[be + ~]He's very nervous about the results of the election. - highly excitable or upset;
jumpy:a nervous crowd. - of, relating to, or affecting the nerves:[before a noun]a nervous disease.
- suffering from, characterized by, or coming from a condition of disordered nerves that affects one's thinking or emotional state:[before a noun]been under a nervous strain.
- bringing, caused by, or having sharp uneasiness or worry:[before a noun]a nervous moment of anticipation.
nerv•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]
nerv•ous
(nûr′vəs),USA pronunciation adj.
nerv′ous•ly, adv.
nerv′ous•ness, n.
- highly excitable;
unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive:to become nervous under stress. - of or pertaining to the nerves:nervous tension.
- affecting the nerves:nervous diseases.
- suffering from, characterized by, or originating in disordered nerves.
- characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension:a nervous moment for us all.
- having or containing nerves.
- sinewy or strong.
- [Archaic.]vigorous or spirited.
- Latin nervōsus sinewy, equivalent. to nerv(us) nerve + -ōsus -ous
- Middle English 1350–1400
nerv′ous•ness, n.
- 1. fearful, timid, timorous.
- 1. confident, bold.
'nervousness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
butterflies
- cold sweat
- collywobbles
- fluttery
- funk
- gulp
- heebie-jeebies
- hyperthyroidism
- jitter
- knot
- needle
- stage fright
- uptight
- willies
- aerophagia
- betray
- butterfly
- catch
- crazy
- fantod
- jimjams
- jump
- jumpy
- key
- laugh
- mike fright
- nail-biting
- nerve
- nerveless
- nervosity
- put
- titter
- tremulous
- whim-wham
- screaming-meemies