nervousness

/ˈnʌrvəsnɪs/

/ˈnʌvəsnəs/

Other forms: nervousnesses

Nervousness is a quality of feeling anxious, worried, or alarmed. Your nervousness about flying in an airplane for the first time shouldn't keep you from fulfilling your dream of traveling to Iceland!

Nervousness takes many forms. What's thrilling to one person —skydiving, public speaking, hosting a party — makes others feel nervous down to their bones. Your dog's nervousness around loud city traffic might finally convince you to move to the country, while your brother might end up outgrowing his nervousness around animals and wind up becoming a vet someday. Nervousness can involve sweating and trembling, or it can be invisible to observers.

Definitions of nervousness

1. noun

   the anxious feeling you have when you have the jitters
   synonyms: jitteriness, jumpiness, restiveness

   type of:

   anxiety

   a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune
2. noun

   an uneasy psychological state
   synonyms: nerves

   types:

   heebie-jeebies, jitters, screaming meemies

   extreme nervousness

   mental strain, nervous strain, strain

   (psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress

   stress, tenseness, tension

   (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense

   type of:

   mental condition, mental state, psychological condition, psychological state

   (psychology) a mental condition in which the qualities of a state are relatively constant even though the state itself may be dynamic
3. noun

   a sensitive or highly strung temperament
   types:

   queasiness, restlessness, uneasiness

   inability to rest or relax or be still

   restiveness, skittishness

   characterized by nervousness and quickness to take fright

   jactation, jactitation

   (pathology) extremely restless tossing and twitching usually by a person with a severe illness

   type of:

   disposition, temperament

   your usual mood