nervous

Worried or afraid about something that may happen.

• I feel nervous.
• She was nervous before the test.
• Are you nervous about meeting his parents?

How to use it: nervous about something (I'm nervous about my first interview.); nervous of someone/something (He is nervous of large dogs.)

Similar words: worried, anxious, apprehensive

Opposites: calm, relaxed

Common phrases: feel nervous, nervous about something, nervous before something

Easily frightened or upset, and unable to relax.

• Our dog is rather nervous.
• The nervous horse jumped at every sound.
• She has always had a nervous disposition.

Similar words: jumpy, edgy, skittish

Opposites: calm, steady

Common phrases: nervous disposition, nervous horse, nervous person

Connected with the nerves that carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body.

• The disease affects the nervous system.
• The brain belongs to the central nervous system.
• Doctors studied the damaged nervous tissue.

Similar words: neural

Common phrases: nervous system, nervous tissue, nervous disorder