nervousness
B2Neutral to formal; used across registers but less common in highly informal speech.
Definition
Meaning
The state or quality of being nervous; a feeling of worry, anxiety, or agitation.
A heightened state of sensitivity, apprehension, or unease, often accompanied by physical symptoms like trembling or sweating, typically in anticipation of a challenging or threatening event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Nervousness typically implies a temporary emotional state related to a specific situation (e.g., an exam, performance, interview) rather than a chronic condition. It can have a neutral or mildly negative connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage and connotations are identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. Slightly more formal than 'nerves' in casual speech.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English corpora, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
nervousness about + NP/gerundnervousness among + NPnervousness over + NPnervousness that + clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have butterflies in one's stomach”
- “get cold feet”
- “on edge”
- “a bundle of nerves”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used regarding market reactions or employee performance before major presentations.
Academic
Common in psychology and sociology texts discussing emotional states and performance.
Everyday
Used to describe pre-event jitters, like before a driving test or date.
Technical
In medicine/psychology, can be a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder or stage fright.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- His voice began to nervous itself into a stutter.
adverb
British English
- He laughed nervously.
American English
- She glanced nervously at the clock.
adjective
British English
- She gave a nervous smile.
American English
- He was nervous about the flight.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I feel nervousness before my test.
- Her nervousness made her forget the words.
- There is some nervousness among the team about the new manager.
- He tried to hide his nervousness with a joke.
- A palpable nervousness gripped the investors as the stock market fell.
- The actor's initial nervousness vanished as soon as he stepped on stage.
- The chancellor's speech did little to allay the growing nervousness in financial circles.
- Her research examines the correlation between pre-competitive nervousness and athletic performance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'nervous' + 'ness' – the 'ness' turns the adjective into the noun for the state of having nerves on edge.
Conceptual Metaphor
NERVOUSNESS IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (e.g., 'A wave of nervousness swept over her').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'нервозность' in all contexts, as the Russian word can imply irritability. 'Нервозность' is closer to 'irritability', while 'волнение' or 'тревожность' are closer to 'nervousness'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'nervosity' (non-standard). Confusing 'nervousness' (state) with 'nervous breakdown' (acute condition). Overusing in place of more specific terms like 'anxiety' or 'stage fright'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as 'nervousness'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Nervousness is typically a temporary, situational feeling of worry or unease. Anxiety can be more persistent, generalised, and clinically significant.
Yes, in some contexts (e.g., 'performance nervousness') it can be seen as a sign of caring about the outcome and can heighten focus, though it is generally an uncomfortable state.
No, 'nervousness' is generally an uncountable noun. Use 'I have some nervousness', 'I feel nervousness', or simply 'I am nervous'.
The adjective form is 'nervous' (e.g., a nervous person).