worry
HighNeutral to Informal
Definition
Meaning
To feel anxious, uneasy, or troubled about a real or potential problem; to cause someone to feel such anxiety.
To repeatedly touch, pull, or bite at something (e.g., a dog worrying a bone); to bother or pester someone; to cause persistent distress. Also used as a noun for the state of anxiety or a specific cause of it.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb has both transitive (worry something/someone) and intransitive uses (I worry). The noun is uncountable for the feeling, countable for a specific concern. Can denote a mild, chronic state or acute distress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Brits more commonly use 'worry' as a transitive verb meaning 'to bother/pester' (e.g., 'Don't worry the dog'). The phrase 'not to worry' is British informal for 'don't worry'. The noun 'worrier' (a person who worries) is slightly more common in British English.
Connotations
Broadly similar, but the British 'Don't you worry' can sound slightly more condescending than the American 'Don't worry about it'.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in spoken British English based on corpora. The imperative 'Worry not!' is archaic/formal in US, humorous/stylized in UK.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Sb] worry[Sb] worry about [sth/sb][Sb] worry [sb] (cause anxiety)[Sb] worry that...[Sb] worry [sb] (pester/bother)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't worry your pretty little head”
- “Worry oneself sick”
- “Not for lack of trying”
- “Worth worrying about”
- “Worried to death”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Market volatility is a major worry for investors this quarter."
Academic
"The researcher's primary worry was the potential for confounding variables."
Everyday
"I'm starting to worry that I left the oven on."
Technical
"Corrosion is a constant worry in marine engineering."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She'll worry over the details for weeks.
- The dog kept worrying at its bandage.
- Not to worry, we'll sort it.
American English
- Don't worry about a thing.
- The constant noise is starting to worry me.
- He worries that his job isn't secure.
adverb
British English
- She looked at him worryingly.
- He paced the room worriedly.
American English
- He watched worryingly as the storm approached.
- She asked worriedly if he was feeling okay.
adjective
British English
- She had a worried look on her face.
- The worried parents called the school.
- It's a worrying trend.
American English
- He gave a worried glance at the clock.
- Their financial situation is worrying.
- The doctor's report was worrying.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I worry about my cat.
- Don't worry, it's easy.
- She is worried.
- My main worry is missing the flight.
- Parents often worry about their children's safety.
- He worries too much about what people think.
- The lack of communication from head office is beginning to worry the staff.
- Her face was etched with worry.
- Constant worrying can affect your health.
- The investors were assailed by worries about long-term stability.
- He had a tendency to worry problems over in his mind like a dog with a bone.
- The gnawing worry that she had made the wrong decision kept her awake.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DOG named WORRY who constantly chews (worries) a BONE of anxiety.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORRY IS AN AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL/BURDEN (e.g., 'worry gnawed at her', 'a weight of worry').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'волноваться' for every context; 'worry' implies a more negative, anxious state. For neutral 'be concerned', use 'be concerned'. For excited anticipation ('волноваться перед концертом'), use 'be excited' or 'be nervous'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I am worrying for you.' Correct: 'I am worried about you.' / 'I worry about you.'
- Incorrect: 'It worries to me.' Correct: 'It worries me.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of these uses of 'worry' is closest in meaning to 'pester' or 'bother'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes ('I worry about...'), but it can be used dynamically in the continuous form to emphasize an ongoing, deliberate, or temporary process ('You're worrying unnecessarily').
'Worry' is often about specific, identifiable concerns and is more verbal/cognitive. 'Anxiety' is a broader, often more clinical term describing a sustained state of unease which can be less focused.
Rarely. It almost always carries a negative connotation of distress. For positive anticipation, use 'excitement' or 'eager anticipation'.
A string of beads manipulated with the fingers to reduce anxiety or keep the hands busy, originating from Greek and Middle Eastern cultures.