Meaning & Definition of Anxiety in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: A mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities.

  Example Sentence: Her anxiety made it difficult for her to attend social events.

• Definition: A feeling of apprehension or dread about what might happen.

  Example Sentence: He felt a sense of anxiety before the important presentation.

• Definition: Physical symptoms such as a racing heart or sweating, often associated with anxiety.

  Example Sentence: The anxiety caused him to sweat profusely during the interview.

Etymology

Origin: From Latin 'anxietas', from 'anxius' meaning 'distressed, uneasy'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• anxiety attack: A sudden episode of intense fear or apprehension that triggers severe physical reactions.
• social anxiety: The fear of social situations that may lead to embarrassment or humiliation.
• generalized anxiety disorder: A medical diagnosis for those who experience excessive anxiety and worry about various aspects of life.

Translations

• Spanish: ansiedad

• French: anxiété

• German: Angst

• Russian: тревога

Related Words

• stress: A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.

• fear: An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous.

• panic: Sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior.

Slang Meanings of anxiety

• Meaning: the jitters

  Example Sentence: She had the jitters before the big event.

• Meaning: nerves

  Example Sentence: He's got the nerves about the upcoming competition.