nervous
♦ nerv|ous /n'ɜːrvəs/
1 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about/of n
If someone is nervous, they are frightened or worried about something that is happening or might happen, and show this in their behaviour.
The party has become deeply nervous about its prospects of winning the next election...
She described Mr Hutchinson as nervous and jumpy after his wife's disappearance.
= anxious
● nervously [ADV] ADV with v
Brunhilde stood up nervously as the men came into the room...
● nervousness [N-UNCOUNT]
I smiled warmly so he wouldn't see my nervousness.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A nervous person is very tense and easily upset.
She was apparently a very nervous woman, and that affected her career.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
A nervous illness or condition is one that affects your emotions and your mental state.
The number of nervous disorders was rising in the region...
He developed nervous problems after people began repeatedly correcting him.cen|tral nerv|ous sys|tem (central nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your central nervous system is the part of your nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.nerv|ous break|down (nervous breakdowns)
[N-COUNT]
If someone has a nervous breakdown, they become extremely depressed and cannot cope with their normal life.
His wife would not be able to cope and might suffer a nervous breakdown.nerv|ous sys|tem (nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your nervous system consists of all the nerves in your body together with your brain and spinal cord.nerv|ous wreck (nervous wrecks)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that someone is a nervous wreck, you mean that they are extremely nervous or worried about something.
She was a nervous wreck, crying when anyone asked her about her experience.
1 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about/of n
If someone is nervous, they are frightened or worried about something that is happening or might happen, and show this in their behaviour.
The party has become deeply nervous about its prospects of winning the next election...
She described Mr Hutchinson as nervous and jumpy after his wife's disappearance.
= anxious
● nervously [ADV] ADV with v
Brunhilde stood up nervously as the men came into the room...
● nervousness [N-UNCOUNT]
I smiled warmly so he wouldn't see my nervousness.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A nervous person is very tense and easily upset.
She was apparently a very nervous woman, and that affected her career.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
A nervous illness or condition is one that affects your emotions and your mental state.
The number of nervous disorders was rising in the region...
He developed nervous problems after people began repeatedly correcting him.cen|tral nerv|ous sys|tem (central nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your central nervous system is the part of your nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.nerv|ous break|down (nervous breakdowns)
[N-COUNT]
If someone has a nervous breakdown, they become extremely depressed and cannot cope with their normal life.
His wife would not be able to cope and might suffer a nervous breakdown.nerv|ous sys|tem (nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your nervous system consists of all the nerves in your body together with your brain and spinal cord.nerv|ous wreck (nervous wrecks)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that someone is a nervous wreck, you mean that they are extremely nervous or worried about something.
She was a nervous wreck, crying when anyone asked her about her experience.