nervousner‧vous /ˈnɜːvəs $ ˈnɜːr-/ ●●● S3 W3 adjective 
She was so nervous about her exams that she couldn’t sleep. I wish you’d stop looking at me like that. You’re making me nervous.feel/get nervous Paul always gets nervous whenever he has to give a presentation.nervous smile/laugh/look/glance ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said with a nervous laugh. ‘There’s no such thing as ghosts.’ By the time I got into the interview I was a nervous wreck (=was extremely nervous).nervous of somebody We were all a bit nervous of him at first (=frightened of him).► see thesaurus at worried2often becoming worried or frightened, and easily upset: She’s a nervous, sensitive child. The film is unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition (=who are easily frightened).3[only before noun] relating to the nerves in your bodynervous condition/illness/disorder She was suffering from a nervous condition. He had a nervous twitch (=his body made small uncontrolled movements).4nervous exhaustion/strain a mental condition in which you feel very tired, usually caused by working too hard or by a difficult emotional problem—nervously adverb: She smiled nervously.—nervousness noun [uncountable]: Mike’s nervousness showed in his voice.COLLOCATIONSverbsfeel nervous· He looked at her for so long that she began to feel nervous.get/become nervous· Everyone gets nervous before a big game.seem/appear nervous· She seemed nervous at first, but her presentation was good.look/sound nervous· He sounded nervous and uncertain.make somebody nervous· Being alone in the house made her nervous.adverbsslightly nervous· Looking slightly nervous, Paul began to speak.a little/a bit nervous· I was a little nervous before the interview.extremely nervous· The policeman noticed that the driver seemed extremely nervous.nounsa nervous smile/laugh/giggle· ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, with a nervous smile.nervous laughter· His comment was met with nervous laughter.a nervous look/glance· Lucy swallowed as she sent him a nervous glance.nervous tension (=a feeling of being very tense and nervous)· It was the play’s opening night, and Gloria was in a state of nervous tension.phrasesbe a nervous wreck (=be so nervous or worried that you cannot deal with a situation)· By the end of the rehearsal I was a nervous wreck.THESAURUSnervous worried or a little frightened about something and unable to relax: · Kelly was so nervous about her exam that she couldn’t sleep.· It makes me nervous when you drive that fast.tense worried and unable to relax in a way that makes you get angry or upset easily: · Mary’s problems at work were making her tense and irritable.uneasy nervous because you feel that something bad might happen, so that you are unable to relax until the danger has passed: · I began to feel uneasy when he still hadn’t phoned by 11 o'clock.on edge if you are on edge or your nerves are on edge, you feel nervous because you are worried about what might happen: · My nerves were on edge, waiting for the results of the test.· Redundancies and other work upheavals have put employees on edge.neurotic nervous and anxious in a way that is not normal or reasonable: · She’s completely neurotic about food hygiene.· a neurotic motheredgy/jumpy/jittery nervous because you are worried about what might happen: · Investors are a little edgy about the financial markets these days.· There was a lot of pressure on the team tonight and that’s why they were a little jumpy.highly-strung British English, high-strung American English becoming nervous or upset easily because that is your character: · Like many musicians, he’s very sensitive and highly-strung.be a nervous wreck to feel extremely nervous and unable to relax: · After 10 months of teaching, I was a total nervous wreck.have butterflies (in your stomach) informal to feel nervous about something that you are going to do very soon because it is important and you want to do it well: · Actors often have butterflies before going on stage.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a nervous disorder
- a thin, nervous woman
- Bill looked nervous, and I could see his hands were shaking.
- Harry began to feel nervous again as the plane made its descent.
- I'm a little nervous about leaving the kids at home all alone.
- I'm always nervous before exams.
- I was so nervous about my exams that I couldn't sleep.
- It makes me nervous when you drive that fast.
- Jill's always been a little nervous of dogs.
- Kelli was so nervous about her exam that she couldn't sleep.
- Many investors are nervous about their investments after the recent drop in the stock market.
- Mr Darby was a mild, nervous man who seemed to expect people to ignore him.
- Mum gets nervous if we don't call to say we're late.
- People of a nervous disposition may be upset by some of the scenes in the following programme.
- Sanders reassured nervous students that loans would be available this fall.
- She's such a nervous child we don't like to leave her on her own.
- Stop tapping your feet! You're making me nervous.
- The sounds outside were making me feel nervous.
- The stage is huge, you know, and I walked out there, and I was real nervous.
- You know what makes me nervous? When people drive really close behind you.
- As soon as you make a nervous slip, he explodes with anger - humiliating you in front of colleagues.
- Doctors say the drug causes body temperatures to rise so high that the central nervous system shuts down.
- It became possible to test theories about nervous system functions.
- Skinheads, on the other hand, are nervous and twitchy.
- The basis of these unities does not seem to lie within the nervous system as it is currently conceived.
- We were always concerned, but never nervous.
THESAURUS
worried or a little frightened about something and unable to relax: · Kelly was so nervous about her exam that she couldn’t sleep.· It makes me nervous when you drive that fast.
worried and unable to relax in a way that makes you get angry or upset easily: · Mary’s problems at work were making her tense and irritable.
nervous because you feel that something bad might happen, so that you are unable to relax until the danger has passed: · I began to feel uneasy when he still hadn’t phoned by 11 o'clock.
if you are on edge or your nerves are on edge, you feel nervous because you are worried about what might happen: · My nerves were on edge, waiting for the results of the test.· Redundancies and other work upheavals have put employees on edge.
nervous and anxious in a way that is not normal or reasonable: · She’s completely neurotic about food hygiene.· a neurotic mother
nervous because you are worried about what might happen: · Investors are a little edgy about the financial markets these days.· There was a lot of pressure on the team tonight and that’s why they were a little jumpy.
British English, high-strung American English becoming nervous or upset easily because that is your character: · Like many musicians, he’s very sensitive and highly-strung.
to feel extremely nervous and unable to relax: · After 10 months of teaching, I was a total nervous wreck.
informal to feel nervous about something that you are going to do very soon because it is important and you want to do it well: · Actors often have butterflies before going on stage.
Longman Language Activatornervous · Bill looked nervous, and I could see his hands were shaking.nervous about · Kelli was so nervous about her exam that she couldn't sleep.· I'm a little nervous about leaving the kids at home all alone.· Many investors are nervous about their investments after the recent drop in the stock market.make somebody nervous · It makes me nervous when you drive that fast.
so worried about something that you cannot relax, and you easily get angry or upset: · I always feel tense after driving all day.· Mary's problems at work were making her tense and irritable.· You seem awfully tense - why don't you have a drink and try to relax?
very nervous so that you are unable to relax and are easily surprised by sudden sounds or movements: · The dogs are jumpy tonight - I wonder if there's something outside.· She was getting jumpy thinking about the trip.· I was feeling extremely jittery - all I wanted was to leave the bar as quickly as possible.· Investors are jittery due to uncertainty about interest rates.
if someone is on edge or if their nerves are on edge , they are nervous and likely to become angry or upset very easily: · Jerry had had a hard day and his nerves were on edge.· As reports of robberies continued to appear in the press, the whole community was increasingly on edge.
nervous that something bad might happen, so that you feel anxious and unable to relax until the danger has passed: · There's something I don't trust about him. He makes me feel very uneasy.· It was the same uneasy feeling he'd experienced that morning when he saw the police car outside.uneasy about: · Rebecca was already beginning to feel uneasy about accepting the stranger's offer of a ride.
very nervous and anxious about something, especially when you are in a dangerous situation that you cannot control or change: · I began to feel panicky, sure that I was going to miss the train.· "Is he really dead?" Abe asked in a panicky voice.· After waiting for him for two hours, Lorna got panicky and called the police.
to be nervous informal to feel nervous about doing something that you are going to do very soon because it is important and you want to do it well: · Some actors never have butterflies before going on stage.have butterflies in your stomach: · It was the morning of the World Cup Final and most of the players had butterflies in their stomachs.
if someone is a nervous wreck , they have been made so nervous that they have completely lost all their confidence and their ability to remain calm or think sensibly: · Before the plane took off she was a nervous wreck - she had to be strapped into her seat.· Even though I'd been practicing for months, by the day of the competition I was a nervous wreck.
informal to be so nervous that you are shaking and you find it impossible to behave calmly, especially for a long time: · Since she lost her job Rosie's been a bundle of nerves.· Harry was a bundle of nerves the whole time his wife was in the hospital.
someone who is often or always nervous someone who is often or always worried and frightened that something unpleasant may happen: · She's such a nervous child we don't like to leave her on her own.· Mr Darby was a mild, nervous man who seemed to expect people to ignore him.
British /high-strung American always nervous and unable to relax, especially so that you react in a very extreme way to ordinary situations: · Mark's a little high-strung, so go easy on him.· Her main problem is that she is very highly-strung which tends to make other people feel nervous too.
informal unable to be relaxed about life in general, so that this makes you seem unfriendly and unhappy: · He tries to be kind, but he always seems a little uptight.· She's one of those narrow-minded, uptight people who think that for a work of art to be great it can't be pleasurable.
a feeling of being nervous the feeling of being nervous because you are worried or a little frightened about something, especially if this feeling is likely to affect your behaviour or performance: · Normally she's very relaxed and amusing. It must be nerves.a case/attack of nerves: · She had a sudden attack of nerves and refused to go to see the dentist.calm/steady etc your nerves (=try to relax): · Arnie had a drink before the meeting to steady his nerves.suffer from nerves British: · Although a competent teacher, he suffers from nerves when the students behave badly.
a feeling of being nervous and unable to relax, especially before something is about to happen: · Her voice trembled with tension.tension is high (=people feel very nervous): · The tension was high in Mexico as the day of the decision approached.tension mounts (=people feel more and more nervous): · A crowd gathered and tension mounted till the riot broke out.
a situation in which people feel nervous a tense situation makes people feel nervous and anxious, especially because they are worried about what might happen next or what someone might do: · There was a tense silence, and then everyone began to laugh.· The negotiations became increasingly tense as the weeks went by.· The journey through the mountains went well even though there were a few tense moments when the car skidded.· When someone mentioned Andy's time in prison, the atmosphere grew tense.
a situation that is strained makes people feel nervous, embarrassed, and uncomfortable, and unable to behave naturally: · After the argument there was a strained silence.· Since my father's affair things have been very strained between him and my mother.· The strained atmosphere at the dinner made it difficult to chat with people.
a situation that is uneasy makes people feel a little nervous because they are uncertain about what will happen next or what someone might do: · After the speech there was an uneasy silence and nobody clapped.· Since the two sides declared a ceasefire, there has been an uneasy calm throughout the region.
an unsettling situation makes you feel slightly nervous and unable to relax or concentrate completely: · The weather forecast was unsettling - we had nowhere to go if a really big storm hit.· Greenspan delivered more unsettling news about the economy the next day.
a nailbiting situation is so exciting that it makes you nervous, especially because you are waiting for a result or decision: · Waiting to become a father is one of the most nailbiting situations a man can face.nailbiting finish: · With three minutes left, the World Cup Final is set for a nailbiting finish.
a nerve-wracking situation makes you feel very nervous because it is difficult or frightening: · Your first appearance on stage is always a nerve-wracking experience· Trying to keep track of all those little kids at the same time must be pretty nerve-wracking.
a charged situation or subject makes people feel very nervous and is likely to cause arguments or violence: · Abortion is still a very emotionally charged issue in the U.S.highly charged: · In a highly charged press conference, Armstrong defended his attack on the children.charged atmosphere: · The already charged atmosphere erupted into violence when police told the crowd to disperse.
to make someone feel nervous · Have you seen the way he looks at people? He makes me nervous.· Don't watch me while I'm typing - it makes me really nervous.· Thunder and lightning always make the horses nervous.
if something unsettles you, it makes you feel slightly nervous and unable to relax or concentrate completely: · Ted's angry outbursts unsettled the whole family.· The threat of war has been enough to unsettle international oil traders.· She was still recovering from the accident so he avoided any subjects which might unsettle her.
to make someone very nervous, especially by shocking or surprising them : · Moore had been extremely unnerved by the FBI's visit.· The daily news stories of the worsening economy unnerved the nation.
to try to make someone, especially someone you are competing against in a game, lose their confidence and their ability to remain calm: psych out somebody: · McEnroe often used his bad behaviour in difficult tennis matches to psych out his opponent.psych somebody out: · Whenever we play chess Bill tries to psych me out by smirking every time I make a move.
to make someone feel very nervous so that they cannot relax: · Trying to keep the plan a secret put us all on edge.· Layoffs and work upheavals have put many employees on edge, both at work and at home.
someone's character the combination of qualities that makes someone a particular kind of person, for example a good or bad, honest or dishonest person: · Her behavior last night revealed a lot about her character.· A candidate's character and qualifications are more important than past experience.· What strikes me most about Hamlet is his noble character.
someone's character - use this especially about how someone behaves towards other people, for example whether they are friendly or unfriendly, confident or easily frightened etc: · It's true he can be emotional at times but that's just part of his personality.· This election should be about issues and policies, not about the personalities of the candidates!friendly/nice/warm etc personality: · Yun has a lovely, warm personality.
someone's character - use this especially to say whether someone is naturally good or bad, gentle or severe etc: · Kindness and sympathy were in his nature.· My girlfriend has a rather unforgiving nature so I don't think that I'll tell her.· She was surprised to learn he had a romantic side to his nature.by nature (=use this when saying what someone's usual character is): · She's generous by nature.· I am not by nature a violent man, but these insults were more than I could bear.it's not in somebody's nature: · It was not in his nature to take risks.
the emotional part of someone's character, especially how likely they are to become angry, happy, sad etc: · His calm, quiet temperament made him popular with his colleagues.· My father and I got along very well, having very similar temperaments.the right temperament: · I'm not sure if she has the right temperament for the job.
formal a character that makes it likely that you will behave nervously, jealously etc: · This program may not be suitable for people with a nervous disposition.be of a nervous/jealous etc disposition: · He's considerate and sweet-tempered but of a very nervous disposition.have a nervous/jealous etc disposition: · Sue had a sunny disposition and a warm smile.
British /makeup American someone's character - use this especially to say that someone's character is completely fixed and they cannot change it or control it: · It's not in their make-up to accept defeat.· Her constant attempts to justify her actions tell the reader a lot about her emotional make-up.· This behaviour is part of our genetic make-up rather than our cultural conditioning.be part of somebody's make-up: · Stubbornness has always been a significant part of his makeup.
informal if you know what makes someone tick , you understand their character, desires, and what makes them behave in the way they do: · After working with him for five years, I still don't know what makes him tick.· As a teacher, you need to get to know your students, find out what makes them tick.
someone who easily gets frightened informal to easily get frightened: · Being a police officer isn't a job for someone who scares easily.· I'll go down and see what that noise was. I don't scare easily you know.
easily frightened and unwilling to do anything that might be unpleasant or dangerous: · Decker knew that the senior officer was wrong, but was too timid to tell him.· They think I'm just a timid woman, but I'll show them they're wrong.timid about doing something: · I was always timid about taking action in a crisis, but not Doris.
a nervous person is always worried or frightened about something that may happen, so that they cannot relax: · You know what makes me nervous? When people drive really close behind you.· The stage is huge, you know, and I walked out there, and I was real nervous.nervous about: · I was so nervous about my exams that I couldn't sleep.nervous of: · Jill's always been a little nervous of dogs.of a nervous disposition (=with a nervous character) formal: · People of a nervous disposition may be upset by some of the scenes in the following programme.
to become mentally ill to become mentally ill, usually as a result of working too hard or difficult emotional problems, and be temporarily unable to deal with ordinary things such as working or looking after your family: · After her divorce, Dora had a nervous breakdown and was off work for three months.· She sounds really bad. I think she's heading for a nervous breakdown.
informal to suddenly become unable to continue your normal life, especially because you have been working too hard or doing something that is very frightening, dangerous etc: · I think Paul's cracking up under the strain of work.· Some people can't cope with the death of a loved one, and simply crack up.
also go mad British, /go crazy especially American to become seriously and permanently mentally ill - used in ordinary English, but not official or medical contexts: · Eventually, rejected by Hamlet, Ophelia goes mad and drowns herself.· I wondered if I was going crazy. Everyone seemed to be against me.· Conditions on the oil rig are very unpleasant. You'd go insane if you had to stay more than a month or so.
feeling worried not feeling happy or relaxed, because you keep thinking about a problem or about something bad that might happen: · Dave could see how worried she was, and he tried to reassure her.look worried: · You look worried - what's the matter?worried about: · Marion was worried about losing her job. · We're very worried about Grandma.· I'm not really worried about how much it will cost.worried (that): · She rushed to the station, worried that she might miss her train.· I was worried if I washed it, it might shrink.get worried: · I'm getting worried because my account still hasn't registered a check I deposited a while ago.a worried look/frown/glance etc: · She had such a worried look on her face!· Helen looked at me with a worried expression.
especially written very worried because you think that something bad has happened or may happen, and you feel that you have no control over the situation: · Anxious relatives waited at the airport for news of the plane crash.feel/sound anxious: · She knew it was a simple operation, but she still felt anxious.anxious about: · Helen is always anxious about travelling alone.· When you become anxious about sleeplessness, you actually make the problem worse.an anxious face/voice/expression etc: · "Please come with me," she said in an anxious voice.· Mae cast an anxious look in his direction.
worried and slightly frightened about something that is going to happen or something new or difficult that you have to do: · I'm always nervous before exams.get nervous: · Mum gets nervous if we don't call to say we're late.look/feel/sound nervous: · Bill looked nervous, and I could see that his hands were shaking.· Harry began to feel nervous again as the plane made its descent.make somebody (feel) nervous: · The sounds outside were making me feel nervous.· Stop tapping your feet! You're making me nervous.nervous about: · Kelly was so nervous about her interview that she couldn't sleep.
worried about someone else's problems, health, safety etc: · A TV programme about cruelty to children brought hundreds of letters from concerned viewers.concerned about: · I'm very concerned about Veronica. She looks so pale, and she has no appetite.· World governments are becoming increasingly concerned about rising global temperature levels.concerned for: · Rescuers are concerned for the safety of two men trapped in the mine.
formal worried and a little frightened about something that you are going to do or about the future, because you are not sure what it will be like: · Dr Gottlieb reassures apprehensive patients that the operation is a simple procedure. apprehensive about: · I must admit that before my baby was born I was very apprehensive about motherhood.· No one need be apprehensive about their personal safety; everything is under control.
worried and not happy with a situation, because you feel there may be something wrong and you are not sure what is going to happen: make somebody uneasy: · When I answered the telephone, no one was there, which made me uneasy.feel uneasy: · After a while she started to feel uneasy, and then scared.uneasy about: · Roger was a bit uneasy about the plan, but he agreed.· 75 percent of consumers said they were uneasy about using their credit cards over the Internet.distinctly uneasy (=very uneasy): · I was distinctly uneasy in his company, but I couldn't explain why.have the/an uneasy feeling: · She had the uneasy feeling that he wasn't going to come back.
very worried, disappointed, and upset by something that has happened: · Hardeep's lawyer said his client was 'shocked and dismayed' after hearing the court's decision.dismayed at/by: · American historians are dismayed at the condition of the texts stored in the library.dismayed to see/hear etc: · We were dismayed to discover that our daughter Louise had started experimenting with heroin.dismayed that: · Danby was dismayed that Watt had opposed him in the vote.· Many of the nurses are dismayed that the management intends to make further service reductions.
informal if you do not like the look or sound of something, it makes you feel worried and unhappy because it seems threatening or dangerous: · I don't like the look of that rash on your chest.· The captain's face darkened as he listened. 'I don't like the sound of this,' he said.· Don't let anyone into your home that you don't like the look of.
WORD SETSaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs Jill has such a lovely relaxed temperament. an event which left her on the verge of a nervous breakdown The attack had left her an emotional wreck.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· He looked at her for so long that she began to feel nervous.
· Everyone gets nervous before a big game.
· She seemed nervous at first, but her presentation was good.
· He sounded nervous and uncertain.
· Being alone in the house made her nervous.
adverbs· Looking slightly nervous, Paul began to speak.
· I was a little nervous before the interview.
· The policeman noticed that the driver seemed extremely nervous.
nouns· ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, with a nervous smile.
· His comment was met with nervous laughter.
· Lucy swallowed as she sent him a nervous glance.
(=a feeling of being very tense and nervous)· It was the play’s opening night, and Gloria was in a state of nervous tension.
phrases (=be so nervous or worried that you cannot deal with a situation)· By the end of the rehearsal I was a nervous wreck.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=having a nervous etc character) The film is not suitable for people of a nervous disposition.
The film is not suitable for people of a nervous disposition. (=energy that comes from being nervous or excited)· She seems to thrive on nervous energy.
(=a feeling of being worried and unable to relax)· My nervous excitement increased with each passing minute.
(=when you become ill because you have been working too hard or have been very worried)
· She gave a nervous giggle before answering.
· He shot a nervous glance at his wife.
· ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said with a nervous laugh.
(=because someone is nervous and not sure how to react)· Nervous laughter greeted her remarks.
· My mother had a nervous breakdown after my father's death.
· At university, Jan suffered a nervous breakdown and was treated for depression.
(=be likely to suffer one soon)· She should slow down a bit - I think she's heading for a nervous breakdown.
· He had a complete nervous after leaving university.
(=to be very close to having a nervous breakdown)· These events left her on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
(=in someone’s body)· These vitamins are essential for a healthy nervous system.
Jill has such a lovely relaxed temperament.· The night before the wedding my mother was in a state of nervous tension.
an event which left her on the verge of a nervous breakdown The attack had left her an emotional wreck.· They were as nervous as we were.· Retail sales have fallen by about half in recent weeks as nervous consumers rein in spending.· Was she going to be as nervous as this for the rest of their stay?· I wasn't nearly as nervous as I had been the other times, even though the audience was twice the size.· Hurrying back to the site, she had felt as nervous as a teenager going on her first date.· Though this was only a preliminary, hypothetical run-through, she felt as nervous as a bride at a wedding rehearsal.· The question is, how did these people come to see themselves primarily as nervous and only secondarily as hungry, malnourished?· I may say I was almost as nervous as any of my students at this point.
· Why should that make him even more nervous?· But he quickened the tempo of our lives, left us more nervous, speedy, irritable.· John and Malc watched hours of rehearsals from the stalls of the Palladium, both becoming more nervous by the second.· She knew that if she didn't speak Carla would get more and more nervous, eventually breaking the heavy silence herself.· I seem to be more nervous in that way than I once was.· I try to encourage them by saying it is my material they are using, which sometimes makes the person more nervous!· The patrols around the perimeter seemed more nervous and aggressive.· Standing outside I was getting more and more nervous.
· Gravellier felt nervous, so nervous he'd been unable to eat any breakfast.· Aileen was so nervous that her whole body was bobbing up and down as she chewed gum.· It wasn't the possibility of Louis learning of their presence in the town that was making her so nervous.· I was so nervous that night.· The international banking community was so nervous that for a while no forward foreign exchange markets operated properly anywhere.· I was so nervous I locked the keys inside my car.· I remember Shostakovich was so nervous but at the same time so impressed.· The imposing figure made them so nervous that they forgot to recite the statements they had carefully rehearsed the night before.
· We had been too nervous to arrive after dark.· Dave Tanner was a bit too nervous for a man on his own territory.· I was too nervous to putt well.· I'd been too nervous to eat breakfast in the hotel and it was now 10.30am and I was starving.· Both seem too nervous to survive, even just college.· It had begun exploding when you lit the back burners, and Mrs Hooper was getting too nervous to touch it.· Tobie was just five years old-too small and pale for her age, too nervous from the parental arguments.
· I stood by the door feeling very nervous.· Rod was very nervous having to do without his usual helicopter coverage.· She was still very nervous, though Mrs. Castell knew to make a fuss of her.· Some survive; those that do get very nervous, and understandably so.· Female speaker Very excited, very nervous also but I am relly looking forward to it.· Magruder and his inferior force very nervous.· On the first evening the singers are always very nervous at having to perform before such a distinguished audience.· Mr Dean talks like a very nervous man being questioned by the police and trying to carry it off.
NOUN· Popa, who had headed the Bucharest Military Court since 1987, was known to have suffered a nervous breakdown.· Logan, who had had two nervous breakdowns, said that he would take the pills himself.· His solicitor said he was suffering from an acute nervous breakdown.· He said she acted erratic, got the shakes one evening and almost had a nervous breakdown.· One needed to go on a crash diet, the other was in the middle of a nervous breakdown.· So no one told him he was already heading for a complete nervous breakdown.· They are almost three times as prone to nervous breakdowns.
· Voice over Multiple Sclerosis is a nervous condition brought about by the destruction of blood vessels in the brain.· Actual bodily harm need not be serious harm and it has been held to include a hysterical and nervous condition.
· Let us therefore assume that nervous disorders act as an intervening variable.· There are wards for children with pulmonary disease and nervous disorders.· In the first, nervous disorders are just an additional cause of absenteeism, but are unrelated to the type of job.· In the second, nervous disorders have no effect on absenteeism, despite the fact that they are caused by poor jobs.· Many of their colleagues are off work sick for long periods being treated for nervous disorders.
· She was of a nervous disposition, Miss Kilspindie.· And any such aberration includes a nervous disposition toward children.
· There, often with Susan Einzig as his partner, his nervous energy became concentrated, dervish-like, into a trance-like state.· During contests he was as jumpy as a schoolgirl and gave off a static charge of nervous energy.· She felt elated and furious, and trembled with nervous energy.· The world might end at any moment; the illustrations of ninth-century Apocalypses are charged with innovation and nervous energy.· He's been living on his reserves of nervous energy for the past couple of weeks.· She was exhausting company, not because she argued but because there was a constant play of restless nervous energy in her.
· Yet it s a one-joke play that teases out its central idea to the point of nervous exhaustion.· Behind dosed doors Diana cried her eyes out with nervous exhaustion.· A week later he wrote to apologise to all six, putting his behaviour down to nervous exhaustion.· Nor could they show her nervous exhaustion, her permanent anxiety for her loved ones, her acute worry about tomorrow.· This probably exacerbated his tendency to long periods of nervous exhaustion, which caused his absence from his parish while he recovered.· Their company seemed to drain me and send me into a state of nervous exhaustion after even a short while.· Most of the others were suffering from a degree of nervous exhaustion after the long takeover struggle.
· Sweeping a nervous glance around the dark garden, Loretta joined them in Puddephat's sitting-room.· She must not let a nervous glance betray her.· The girls exchanged nervous glances, thinking that it must be Miss Hardbroom come to reprimand them for being out of bed.· She sat down again beside Dauntless, casting him nervous glances.
· The humour was heavy-handed and, in response to Simon Franks' nervous laugh, Blanche smiled politely.· Marie said with a nervous laugh as she gave him a dime.· A nervous laugh, because she was beginning to feel uneasy.· She was a shy, quiet woman in her mid-twenties with a tinkling nervous laugh.· The silence that followed was finally broken by a nervous laugh from one of the men-at-arms.
· She glanced at her brother sitting beside her and managed a weak, nervous smile.· She smiled slightly, a nervous smile that held kindliness.· The man, middle-aged, wearing a suit, complied with a nervous smile.
· It could not be true that nervous strain made you lose weight.
· Even amongst those organisms with well-coordinated nervous systems, a good case can be made for the dominance of beetles over mammals.· All these are degenerative diseases of the central nervous system.· This poison apparently affects the nervous system.· By reflex action - a mechanism of the nervous system - the threatened hand is instantly withdrawn and the threatened eye closed.· Images serve as cues stimulating the nervous system, causing muscles to respond subconsciously.· Other organisms show evidence for muscular activity and so presumably a nervous system, as well as the inferred presence of a circulatory system.· Because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, many people are under the impression that it improves sleep.
· Walking will help you to sleep and is an antidote to stress, nervous tension and depression.· The faster machines move the faster man lives and the bigger the tribute in nervous tension he pays to the machine.· In the period leading up to the actual fight, first-time fighters are suddenly stricken with nervous tension.· Passion flower is employed around the world as a mild sedative that reduces nervous tension and anxiety.· In her state of extreme nervous tension she had clutched those dollars so tightly that they'd almost disintegrated.· Others seem to hear your heartbeat and remain in a constant state of nervous tension.· Up in the stand some one giggled with nervous tension.· I didn't sleep the night before the exam because of nervous tension, however, so I didn't do very well.
· Constant activity can easily become an ineffectual nervous twitch.· He had a nervous twitch and a speech impediment.· He had a nervous twitch which jerked at a muscle at the corner of his thin-lipped mouth and a malevolent stare.
· Just the thing for a twitching little nervous wreck who keeps passing out on her dinner dates.· By the time my friends left, l was a nervous wreck.· Of course, we hardly needed to say, as we made our way upstairs, that we were both nervous wrecks.· Apparently some of them nervous wrecks.· It had to be learnt, if we were not to turn into nervous wrecks.· She was a nervous wreck, and all that was wrong with the child was measles.· At this rate she would go back to London a nervous wreck and have to resign.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- A week later he wrote to apologise to all six, putting his behaviour down to nervous exhaustion.
- Behind dosed doors Diana cried her eyes out with nervous exhaustion.
- It could not be true that nervous strain made you lose weight.
- Most of the others were suffering from a degree of nervous exhaustion after the long takeover struggle.
- Nor could they show her nervous exhaustion, her permanent anxiety for her loved ones, her acute worry about tomorrow.
- Their company seemed to drain me and send me into a state of nervous exhaustion after even a short while.
- This probably exacerbated his tendency to long periods of nervous exhaustion, which caused his absence from his parish while he recovered.
- Yet it s a one-joke play that teases out its central idea to the point of nervous exhaustion.
WORD FAMILYadjectivenervousnervelessnerve-rackingnervyunnervingnounnervenervesnervousnessverbnerveunnerveadverbnervously
1worried or frightened about something, and unable to relaxnervous about something She was so nervous about her exams that she couldn’t sleep. I wish you’d stop looking at me like that. You’re making me nervous.feel/get nervous Paul always gets nervous whenever he has to give a presentation.nervous smile/laugh/look/glance ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said with a nervous laugh. ‘There’s no such thing as ghosts.’ By the time I got into the interview I was a nervous wreck (=was extremely nervous).nervous of somebody We were all a bit nervous of him at first (=frightened of him).► see thesaurus at worried2often becoming worried or frightened, and easily upset: She’s a nervous, sensitive child. The film is unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition (=who are easily frightened).3[only before noun] relating to the nerves in your bodynervous condition/illness/disorder She was suffering from a nervous condition. He had a nervous twitch (=his body made small uncontrolled movements).4nervous exhaustion/strain a mental condition in which you feel very tired, usually caused by working too hard or by a difficult emotional problem—nervously adverb: She smiled nervously.—nervousness noun [uncountable]: Mike’s nervousness showed in his voice.COLLOCATIONSverbsfeel nervous· He looked at her for so long that she began to feel nervous.get/become nervous· Everyone gets nervous before a big game.seem/appear nervous· She seemed nervous at first, but her presentation was good.look/sound nervous· He sounded nervous and uncertain.make somebody nervous· Being alone in the house made her nervous.adverbsslightly nervous· Looking slightly nervous, Paul began to speak.a little/a bit nervous· I was a little nervous before the interview.extremely nervous· The policeman noticed that the driver seemed extremely nervous.nounsa nervous smile/laugh/giggle· ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, with a nervous smile.nervous laughter· His comment was met with nervous laughter.a nervous look/glance· Lucy swallowed as she sent him a nervous glance.nervous tension (=a feeling of being very tense and nervous)· It was the play’s opening night, and Gloria was in a state of nervous tension.phrasesbe a nervous wreck (=be so nervous or worried that you cannot deal with a situation)· By the end of the rehearsal I was a nervous wreck.THESAURUSnervous worried or a little frightened about something and unable to relax: · Kelly was so nervous about her exam that she couldn’t sleep.· It makes me nervous when you drive that fast.tense worried and unable to relax in a way that makes you get angry or upset easily: · Mary’s problems at work were making her tense and irritable.uneasy nervous because you feel that something bad might happen, so that you are unable to relax until the danger has passed: · I began to feel uneasy when he still hadn’t phoned by 11 o'clock.on edge if you are on edge or your nerves are on edge, you feel nervous because you are worried about what might happen: · My nerves were on edge, waiting for the results of the test.· Redundancies and other work upheavals have put employees on edge.neurotic nervous and anxious in a way that is not normal or reasonable: · She’s completely neurotic about food hygiene.· a neurotic motheredgy/jumpy/jittery nervous because you are worried about what might happen: · Investors are a little edgy about the financial markets these days.· There was a lot of pressure on the team tonight and that’s why they were a little jumpy.highly-strung British English, high-strung American English becoming nervous or upset easily because that is your character: · Like many musicians, he’s very sensitive and highly-strung.be a nervous wreck to feel extremely nervous and unable to relax: · After 10 months of teaching, I was a total nervous wreck.have butterflies (in your stomach) informal to feel nervous about something that you are going to do very soon because it is important and you want to do it well: · Actors often have butterflies before going on stage.