anxious
adjective
anx·ious
ˈaŋ(k)-shəs 
1
3
: ardently or earnestly wishing
She was anxious to learn more.
anxiously
adverb
anxiousness
noun
Did you know?
Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager?
The fact that individual words can have multiple senses that are closely related in meaning is something which many people find objectionable about the English language. Anxious is an example of such a word, as people will use it to mean "worried," "eager (but with an undertone of worry)," and simply "eager."
The word has been used in the sense of "eager" for a considerable length of time, with evidence going back at least to the 17th century.
Examples of anxious in a Sentence
… to the eye anxious for reform in the city and forgetful of conditions in the countryside …
—
Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win.
—Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000
The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens …
—Atlantic, May 1997
He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste.
—John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957
She feels anxious and depressed.
People are anxious about the future.
He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party.
We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test.
It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home.
He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face.
He was anxious for more news.
Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win.
—Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000
The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens …
—Atlantic, May 1997
He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste.
—John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957
She feels anxious and depressed.
People are anxious about the future.
He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party.
We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test.
It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home.
He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face.
He was anxious for more news.
Recent Examples on the Web
How to know when your dog is agitated Identifying an anxious or aggressive dog can be tricky, as negative and positive emotional indicators can often be confused.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
The Fed chief said Wednesday the central bank can be patient while assessing data on inflation and employment, which are its dual mandates, while anxious consumers and businesses eye potentially prolonged economic instability.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
Biden’s reemergence on the political scene has raised questions among some Democrats nationally who are anxious to move past the 82-year-old former president and last year’s presidential campaign.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Anders Puck Nielsen of the Royal Danish Defence College believes Kyiv is also anxious about recent European Union overtures to China, as the two economic powerhouses look for possible joint solutions in the face of Trump’s trade wars.
—Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
The Fed chief said Wednesday the central bank can be patient while assessing data on inflation and employment, which are its dual mandates, while anxious consumers and businesses eye potentially prolonged economic instability.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
Biden’s reemergence on the political scene has raised questions among some Democrats nationally who are anxious to move past the 82-year-old former president and last year’s presidential campaign.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Anders Puck Nielsen of the Royal Danish Defence College believes Kyiv is also anxious about recent European Union overtures to China, as the two economic powerhouses look for possible joint solutions in the face of Trump’s trade wars.
—Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Cite this Entry
“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxious. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anxious
adjective
anx·ious
ˈaŋ(k)-shəs
1
: afraid or nervous about what may happen : worried
anxious about their son's health
2
: desiring earnestly
anxious to make good
anxiously
adverb
anxiousness
noun
Medical Definition
anxious
adjective
anx·ious
ˈaŋ(k)-shəs
1
: characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency
anxious students
2
: characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety
an anxious time in the hospital waiting room
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