worried

worried — adjective

1. feeling nervous, unhappy, or afraid because problems or unpleasant possibilities

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

feeling nervous, unhappy, or afraid because problems or unpleasant possibilities are on your mind, making it hard to stop thinking about them

Example

Rania was worried about her grandmother's health after the operation.

worried about + noun phrase for concerns

Hari's parents were worried that he had missed the last bus home.

worried + that-clause for feared outcomes

Common collocations
  • deeply worried
  • extremely worried
  • genuinely worried
  • desperately worried
  • visibly worried
  • look worried
  • feel worried
  • seem worried
  • get worried
  • remain worried
  • worried face
  • worried look
  • worried parents
Synonyms
  • concerned

    More formal and less emotionally intense; often used in professional or polite contexts

  • anxious

    Stronger than worried, often implies physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat or inability to relax

  • uneasy

    A vague discomfort without a clearly identified cause; less urgent than worried

  • troubled

    Deeper and longer-lasting sadness or distress; suggests a serious or ongoing problem

Antonyms
  • unconcerned

    Not bothered at all; opposite of worried about a specific issue

  • carefree

    Lively and light-hearted, with no worries weighing one down

Grammar Patterns

be worried about [noun/gerund]

be worried that [clause]

be worried by [noun]

too worried to [verb]

look/feel/seem worried

Usage Note

Commonly followed by 'about' (the topic of worry), 'that' (the specific feared situation), or 'by' (the cause). The pattern 'be worried sick' is an informal idiom meaning extremely worried (e.g. 'her parents were worried sick when she did not call'). Distinguish from 'worrying' (adjective: causing worry, e.g. 'a worrying situation') — 'worried' describes the person's feeling, while 'worrying' describes the thing that causes it.

Common Mistakes

I am worry about the exam.
I am worried about the exam.
'Worried' is the adjective; 'worry' is a verb and cannot follow 'am.'
My mother is worried of my health.
My mother is worried about my health.
The preposition after 'worried' is 'about,' not 'of.'
She looked worryingly.' (when you mean she felt worry)
She looked worried.
'Worryingly' is an adverb meaning 'in a way that causes worry,' not 'in a worried manner.'
Idioms

worried sick

idiom

extremely worried, to the point where it makes you feel physically unwell

Nellie was worried sick when her son did not answer his phone all evening.

The family back home were worried sick about the travellers caught in the storm.

you had me worried

idiom

used to tell someone that you were worried for a time because of something they said or did, but now realise there was no reason to be

You said you lost the tickets — you had me worried for a moment.

When Bao did not show up on time, he had us all worried.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These five words all describe negative feelings about something that may happen, but they differ in strength and focus. 'Worried' is the most general and everyday word — you worry about a test result, a friend's health, or a delayed flight. 'Anxious' is stronger and suggests physical tension: a racing heart, sweaty palms, or an inability to sit still. 'Concerned' is more formal and less emotional; a doctor may be 'concerned' about test results without being personally upset. 'Uneasy' describes a vague discomfort when you sense something is wrong but cannot name it. 'Nervous' is specific to upcoming events like a job interview or first date. For example: 'João was worried about his grandmother, anxious before her surgery, and uneasy when the doctor took a long time to call.'

worried ↗anxious ↗concerned ↗uneasynervous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • worried sick
  • worried to death
  • worried stiff
  • get worried
  • remain worried

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

'Worried' comes from the Old English verb 'wyrgan,' which originally meant 'to strangle.' In Middle English, the meaning shifted to 'to seize by the throat and shake' (like a dog attacking prey). By the 1500s, the word had taken on the figurative sense of 'to harass, vex, or cause mental distress.' The adjective 'worried' emerged in the 1800s, completing the journey from physical harm to the modern meaning of mental unease about life's problems.