Worry Meaning and Definition

Worry

Worry

Pronunciation

/ˈwɝri/

Part of Speech

Noun or Verb

Definition

A feeling of anxiety or unease about something. A concern or disturbance. (noun) To feel anxious or troubled about something. (verb)

Examples

  • I’ve been worrying about the exam for days.
  • The constant tension was causing me to worry about my health.

Synonyms

  • Concern
  • Apprehension
  • Disquiet

Antonyms

  • Relief
  • Calmness
  • Security

Etymology

The word “worry” originates from the Old English word “wrigan”, which means “to strangle” or “to choke”. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century.

Usage Notes

“Worry” can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the feeling itself, while as a verb, it means to feel anxious or anxious.

Cultural References

“Worry” has been referenced in various forms of media, such as songs, literature, and films. For example, the song “Worry” by Taylor Swift and the novel “Worry About the Future” by Tom Rachman.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Worry your head off”, “stop worrying and start living”, “Worrying won’t change a thing”

Related Words or Phrases

“Concern”, “Anxiously”, “Apprehensive”, “Fear”

Collocations

“Worry about”, “worry about it”, “stop worrying about it”, “try not to worry about it”

Frequency of Use

“Worry” is a commonly used word in modern English, with over 1.5 million occurrences in the Corpus of Contemporary American English.

Common Misspellings

“Woury”, “Wary”, “Wari”

Related Words