age of anxiety
C1/C2Literary, Academic, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A historical or cultural period characterized by widespread, often existential, worry, uncertainty, and fear about the state of the world and the future.
Used to describe the modern era (post-WWII) but also applied metaphorically to any specific time where societal, political, economic, or technological change creates pervasive psychological stress. Also the title of W.H. Auden's long poem (1947) that popularized the phrase.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A capitalized noun phrase. It refers to a collective mood of an era, not an individual's personal anxiety. Implies a philosophical or cultural critique.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. The phrase is equally recognized in both cultural contexts.
Connotations
In British academic/journals, it may be more readily linked to Auden and a mid-20th century European context. In American discourse, it might be applied more broadly to contemporary socio-political or digital-age anxieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in high-register written English. Slightly higher frequency in UK literary criticism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [century/decade] has been called an age of anxiety.We live in an age of anxiety about [climate change/technology].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly for this specific phrase; it is itself a set phrase]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly used in trend analysis or leadership talks: 'Navigating business in an age of anxiety requires resilient strategies.'
Academic
Common in sociology, history, psychology, and literary studies to describe post-modern or contemporary social conditions.
Everyday
Uncommon. Might appear in high-quality journalism or opinion pieces.
Technical
Not applicable in STEM fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The age-of-anxiety thesis is prevalent in modern criticism.
- He wrote an age-of-anxiety narrative.
American English
- We're in an age-of-anxiety mindset.
- It was an age-of-anxiety analysis of politics.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many historians call the Cold War period an age of anxiety.
- The constant news about crises makes it feel like an age of anxiety.
- Critics have labelled the post-9/21st century as a new age of anxiety, marked by digital surveillance and global instability.
- Auden's 'The Age of Anxiety' captures the existential dread of the mid-20th century individual.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'The Age of Anxiety' as the title of a serious book—it describes a whole chapter in human history filled with worry.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME PERIOD IS A CONTAINER FOR EMOTION (A container filled with the substance 'anxiety').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like '*возраст тревоги*'. Use '*эпоха/век тревоги*' or the calque '*эпоха/век беспокойства*'. The phrase is a cultural concept, not a literal age.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe a personal period of stress (e.g., 'My exam week was an age of anxiety').
- Incorrect capitalization when not referring to the specific Auden poem or as a formal title.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'age of anxiety' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it originated in the mid-20th century context, it can be applied retrospectively (e.g., 'The interwar years were an age of anxiety') or prospectively to describe any period characterized by widespread dread.
It is conventionally capitalized when referring specifically to W.H. Auden's 1947 poem 'The Age of Anxiety'. In general usage ('we live in an age of anxiety'), lowercase is standard unless it is a formal title in a text.
No, it is a high-register, literary, or academic phrase. It would sound formal or pretentious in casual speech.
Very rarely. The phrase conceptualizes a singular epoch. You might see 'ages of anxiety' in a historical comparative sense, but it is uncommon.