anxious
adjective
anx·ious
ˈaŋ(k)-shəs 
1
3
: ardently or earnestly wishing
She was anxious to learn more.
anxiously
adverb
anxiousness
noun
Did you know?
Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager?
The fact that individual words can have multiple senses that are closely related in meaning is something which many people find objectionable about the English language. Anxious is an example of such a word, as people will use it to mean "worried," "eager (but with an undertone of worry)," and simply "eager."
The word has been used in the sense of "eager" for a considerable length of time, with evidence going back at least to the 17th century.
Synonyms
Examples of anxious in a Sentence
… to the eye anxious for reform in the city and forgetful of conditions in the countryside …
—
Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win.
—Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000
The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens …
—Atlantic, May 1997
He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste.
—John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957
She feels anxious and depressed.
People are anxious about the future.
He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party.
We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test.
It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home.
He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face.
He was anxious for more news.
Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win.
—Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000
The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens …
—Atlantic, May 1997
He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste.
—John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957
She feels anxious and depressed.
People are anxious about the future.
He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party.
We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test.
It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home.
He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face.
He was anxious for more news.
Recent Examples on the Web
Boutin has been in remission from thyroid cancer since August, but just had a related surgery last week and the couple was anxious about Boutin inhaling any smoke.
—Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Lines at downtown precincts were busy and people who have been inundated with out-of-town organizers and ads for months could be heard speculating about the results on their cellphones, anxious to see a conclusion to the contest.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Joe Biden lost North Carolina by just over one percentage point in 2020, but Harris has been tied or ahead in several recent polls there, and the Trump campaign has been increasingly anxious about it.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Imma is relieved to see her mother and anxious to go home.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anxious 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Lines at downtown precincts were busy and people who have been inundated with out-of-town organizers and ads for months could be heard speculating about the results on their cellphones, anxious to see a conclusion to the contest.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Joe Biden lost North Carolina by just over one percentage point in 2020, but Harris has been tied or ahead in several recent polls there, and the Trump campaign has been increasingly anxious about it.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Imma is relieved to see her mother and anxious to go home.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anxious
Articles Related to anxious
Dictionary Entries Near anxious
Cite this Entry
“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxious. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anxious
adjective
anx·ious
ˈaŋ(k)-shəs
1
: afraid or nervous about what may happen : worried
anxious about their son's health
2
: desiring earnestly
anxious to make good
anxiously
adverb
anxiousness
noun
Medical Definition
anxious
adjective
anx·ious
ˈaŋ(k)-shəs
1
: characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency
anxious students
2
: characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety
an anxious time in the hospital waiting room
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