nervous
gb/nˈɚvəs/ us/nˈɚvəs/
A2
Inglese
~ 2700
Accezioni
0 accezioni
adjective
A2
property
1
feeling anxious or uneasy
Feeling afraid or worried about what might happen.
Schema d'uso:
[someone] is nervous about [something]
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes confuse 'nervous' with 'excited', but 'nervous' usually means worried or uneasy, not happy anticipation.
Sinonimi
anxious (Often used similarly, though 'anxious' can also mean 'eager' in some contexts.)
|
apprehensive (Slightly more formal; suggests quiet fear or concern.)
Contrari
confident (Opposite emotional state; feeling sure and positive rather than uneasy.)
Collocazioni
feel nervous
|nervous about
|nervous before
|nervous smile
|nervous laugh
Temi
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- She felt nervous before giving her speech.
- I'm always nervous before job interviews.
- He looked nervous when the teacher called his name.
- The actor was nervous about forgetting his lines.
- I get nervous when flying in bad weather.
Esempi per chi studia
- I am nervous before the test.
- She is nervous about meeting new people.
- He feels nervous in big crowds.
- They are nervous before the game.
- My friend is nervous about the exam.
adjective
technical
B2
property
2
relating to the body's nerves
About the nerves inside the body that send signals to and from the brain.
Sinonimi
neurological (More formal and specific to medical or scientific contexts.)
Collocazioni
nervous system
|nervous tissue
|nervous impulse
Temi
science
|medicine
|body
|health
Esempi
- The doctor explained how the nervous system works.
- Nervous tissue transmits signals throughout the body.
- The disease affects the central nervous system.
- Nervous impulses travel quickly along neurons.
- This study focuses on nervous function in mammals.
Esempi per chi studia
- The brain is part of the nervous system.
- The nervous system controls the body.
- Nervous tissue sends signals to the brain.
- A nervous impulse moves fast.
- The doctor studies the nervous system.
adjective
B1
property
3
easily startled or jumpy
Quick to feel worried, afraid, or jumpy.
Schema d'uso:
[someone] is nervous around [something/someone]
Sinonimi
high-strung (Informal; suggests being tense and easily upset.)
|
jittery (Informal; emphasizes physical restlessness or shakiness.)
Contrari
calm (Opposite temperament; relaxed and not easily upset.)
Collocazioni
nervous disposition
|nervous temperament
Temi
emotions
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- He's always been a nervous person, even as a child.
- The horse was too nervous to approach.
- She has a nervous temperament and startles easily.
- Some dogs are naturally more nervous than others.
- He gave a nervous jump when he heard the noise.
Esempi per chi studia
- The cat is very nervous around strangers.
- My dog is nervous near loud sounds.
- He is a nervous man who worries a lot.
- She looks nervous when talking to new people.
- The child feels nervous in big crowds.
Grammatica
Forma base
nervous
IPA
GB/nˈɚvəs/
US/nˈɚvəs/
Sillabe e accento
nervous (1 sillaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (nervous)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: nervous
Famiglia di parole
Core family
Related words
nervy
adjective
unnerve
verb C1
Advanced or less common
neurotic
adjective
neurology
noun
neurologist
noun
Espressioni
nervous energy
1/nˈɚvəs ˈɛnɚd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
restless energy from anxiety
A feeling of having too much energy because you are worried or excited.
Esempi
- He paced the room, full of nervous energy before the meeting.
- She cleaned the kitchen to use up her nervous energy.
nervous laughter
1/nˈɚvəs lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
laughter from discomfort or fear
Laughing because you are worried, shy, or uncomfortable, not because something is funny.
Esempi
- There was some nervous laughter when the boss made a joke about layoffs.
- Her comment was followed by a burst of nervous laughter.
nervous breakdown
1/nˈɚvəs bɹˈeɪkdˌaʊn/
fixed phrase
severe mental health crisis
A period when someone cannot live normally because of extreme stress or mental illness.
Esempi
- After months of pressure at work, she had a nervous breakdown.
- After his nervous breakdown, he took six months off work.
- He took time off after suffering a nervous breakdown.
- She suffered a nervous breakdown in her twenties but later recovered.
- The doctor warned him he was close to a nervous breakdown.