nervous
Translation
nervous, anxious, apprehensive, on edge
Examples
I always feel nervous before a presentation.
I always feel nervous before a presentation.
He is a nervous person by nature.
He is a nervous person by nature.
The nervous system is very complex.
The nervous system is very complex.
Grammar Patterns
nervous ((about sth.)) anxious about sth. I'm nervous about my driving test.
a nervous ((noun)) a (noun) showing anxiety He gave a nervous smile.
Similar Words
Synonyms: anxious, tense, worried; Antonyms: calm, relaxed, confident
Etymology
From 'nerve' + the suffix '-ous' (full of). It literally means 'full of nerve', which evolved to mean anxious or relating to the nerves.
Memory Tips
Imagine your nerves are jumping around inside you when you feel 'nervous' before a test or a speech.