# anxiety

Pronunciation: say "ang-ZY-uh-tee" /ˌæŋ(ɡ)ˈzaɪ.ə.ti/

## Noun

1. An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, and apprehension, with worry about some uncertain event.
   - Simple: A worried, nervous feeling about something that might happen.
   - _The anxiety of waiting for the diagnosis kept her awake all night._
   - _Months of financial uncertainty left him in a constant state of anxiety._
2. A diagnosable disorder marked by persistent, excessive worry, especially generalized anxiety disorder. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A mental health condition that makes someone feel worried or afraid very often.
   - _Her anxiety is well managed with therapy and regular exercise._
   - _Many college students struggle with anxiety during their first year away from home._
3. A condition of restless agitation, frequently with an unpleasant feeling of heaviness or tightness in the stomach.
   - Simple: A restless, upset feeling that often comes with a tight, heavy feeling in the stomach.
   - _Clinicians noted her anxiety alongside the characteristic tightness in the upper abdomen._
   - _The episode presented as anxiety with visible restlessness and a distressing sense of chest oppression._
4. An uneasy or distressing desire for something, or an eager striving to please.
   - Simple: A strong, worried wish to do or get something.
   - _In his anxiety to impress the committee, he over-prepared every detail of the presentation._
   - _Her anxiety for her children's success shaped nearly every decision she made._

## Origin

From Latin anxietas, from anxius ("anxious, distressed, troubled"), from ango ("to distress, trouble"), which is related to Ancient Greek ankho ("to choke").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/anxiety (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).