worry
worry — verb
1. to spend time thinking about things that might go wrong or cause difficulty, whi
to spend time thinking about things that might go wrong or cause difficulty, which makes you feel nervous or upset
Tanvi worries about her exams every night before she goes to sleep.
worry + about + thing
Stop worrying — the train will arrive in a few minutes.
imperative: Stop + -ing
Mizuki worried that her parents would be angry about the broken window.
worry + that-clause
There is no point worrying about things you cannot change.
The doctor told Christopher not to worry about the test results.
negative imperative: not to worry
- worry about
- worry that
- worry over
- worry unnecessarily
- relax
to stop feeling worried and become calm
Grammar Patterns
worry + about + thing
worry + that-clause
Usage Note
Subject is a person who feels anxious. The thing causing the anxiety follows 'about' or appears in a that-clause.
Common Mistakes
2. to cause someone to feel nervous or concerned about something that has happened
to cause someone to feel nervous or concerned about something that has happened or might happen
The rising cost of rent worries Sophia a great deal.
thing + worries + person
It worries Anya that her son spends so much time alone in his room.
It worries + person + that-clause
The warning about the coming storm worried the whole village.
event + worries + group
Nothing seems to worry Cyrus — he stays calm no matter what happens.
negative subject: Nothing worries + person
- worry someone
- it worries someone that
- something worries someone deeply
- reassure
to make someone feel less worried or anxious
Grammar Patterns
worry + person
It worries + person + that-clause
Usage Note
Subject is usually a situation, event, or fact that triggers anxiety. The worried person is the direct object. 'It worries me that…' is a very common construction.
Common Mistakes
3. to bother someone repeatedly by asking many questions, making requests, or givin
to bother someone repeatedly by asking many questions, making requests, or giving unwanted attention
The little girl worried her father with endless questions about how birds fly.
worry + person + with + questions
Stop worrying the cat — she is tired and wants to sleep.
worry + animal (object)
Apinya worried the receptionist by calling four times to ask about the same form.
worry + person + by + -ing clause
Mr. Okonkwo worried the technician with phone calls every hour until the internet was fixed.
worry + person + with + phone calls
- worry someone with
- worry someone by
Grammar Patterns
worry + person + with + thing
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (FEEL ANXIOUS): here the subject deliberately pesters someone, not 'keeps thinking about problems'. The object is the person or animal being bothered.
Common Mistakes
4. when a dog chases a farm animal, especially a sheep, and bites or snaps at it, o
when a dog chases a farm animal, especially a sheep, and bites or snaps at it, often causing injury or distress
The farmer's dog worried the sheep until two of them ran into the river.
dog + worries + livestock
A loose dog was worrying cattle in the field near the highway last night.
The farmer found his own dog worrying the chickens early this morning.
dog + worries + chickens
The landowner warned that any dog caught worrying sheep would be reported to the police.
passive: caught worrying + livestock
- dog worries livestock
- sheep worrying
Grammar Patterns
dog + worries + animal
Usage Note
Almost exclusively used for dogs chasing livestock, especially sheep. Does not apply to wild predator attacks. In some legal contexts, a farmer can shoot a dog found worrying sheep.
worry at
phrasal verbto keep pulling or touching something with your hands or teeth; or to keep thinking about a problem without finding a solution
The puppy sat on the rug and worried at an old slipper until it fell apart.
Aarav worried at the problem for hours but could not figure out why the computer crashed.
not to worry
idiomused to tell someone that a mistake or problem is not serious and they should not feel concerned
Not to worry — everyone makes mistakes when they first start learning.
Sivan forgot to bring the map, but Theo said, 'Not to worry, I know the way.'
to become extremely anxious about someone or something, to the point where it affects your health
Rachid worried himself sick when his daughter did not come home until midnight.
Do not worry yourself to death over a small test — you will do fine.
worry — noun
1. a problem or difficult situation causing someone to feel anxious or unhappy
a problem or difficult situation causing someone to feel anxious or unhappy
Money is Rachid's biggest worry at the moment.
biggest / main + worry
The Watanabe family's main worry is finding a new apartment before their lease ends.
possessive + main worry
Paloma shared her financial worries with the bank manager during the meeting.
financial worries
One less worry for Theo — his visa application was approved this morning.
one less worry
- have worries
- financial worries
- main worry
- biggest worry
- one less worry
Grammar Patterns
possessive + worry
someone's + worry
Usage Note
Countable — you can have 'worries' (multiple problems). Often used with 'main', 'biggest', 'financial', 'little'.
Common Mistakes
2. the feeling of being nervous or anxious because you keep thinking about somethin
the feeling of being nervous or anxious because you keep thinking about something that might go wrong
Worry kept Tanvi awake all night before the job interview.
Worry + kept + person + awake
Aarav could see the worry on his mother's face when he came home late.
see + worry + on + face
There is growing worry among parents about how much time children spend online.
growing worry among + group
The worry in her voice was clear when she called after the earthquake.
full of worry
- full of worry
- cause worry
- growing worry
- with worry
- sense of worry
- calm
a state of being free from worry or anxiety
- peace of mind
a feeling of being free from worry
Grammar Patterns
full of worry
cause + worry
with + worry
Usage Note
Most commonly uncountable ('a feeling of worry'). The countable form ('a worry') is rare for this sense — see sense 1 (CAUSE OF WORRY) for countable use referring to a specific problem.
Common Mistakes
3. a friendly phrase people say to show that a mistake or accident is not important
a friendly phrase people say to show that a mistake or accident is not important and the other person should not apologise
'I am sorry I broke your pen.' 'No worries — it was old anyway.'
No worries — apology response
Rachid forgot to bring the book, but Christopher said, 'No worries, bring it tomorrow.'
'The bus is delayed by twenty minutes.' 'No worries, we still have plenty of time.'
No worries — delay response
Sivan split coffee on the tablecloth and apologised, but Paloma said, 'No worries, it happens.'
No worries — apology for accident
- it's fine
slightly more neutral, works in both formal and informal contexts
- don't worry about it
more explicit, slightly more formal than 'no worries'
Usage Note
Fixed phrase — only used in the exact form 'No worries'. Very common in informal spoken English. Not used in formal writing.
4. a friendly, informal reply after someone has expressed gratitude for a favour or
a friendly, informal reply after someone has expressed gratitude for a favour or service you provided
'Thanks for helping me move the sofa.' 'No worries — happy to help.'
No worries — response to thanks
Paloma said 'No worries' when Theo thanked her for driving him to the airport.
'Thanks for watering my plants.' 'No worries — they look lovely.'
No worries — thanks for favour
'Thanks for the lift to the station.' 'No worries — glad I could help.'
- you're welcome
neutral register, suitable for any situation
- my pleasure
slightly more formal and polite
- don't mention it
warmer, suggests the help was no trouble
Usage Note
Only used in informal spoken English. More formal alternatives include 'You are welcome' and 'My pleasure'.
5. a friendly phrase used to show you are happy to help with something someone need
a friendly phrase used to show you are happy to help with something someone needs, or that the task is easy
'Could you check this report for me?' 'No worries, I will do it right now.'
No worries — willingness to help
The librarian smiled and said, 'No worries, I will find that book for you.'
'Please save a seat for me.' 'No worries, I will keep one near the front.'
No worries — agreeing to request
When Cyrus asked Apinya to proofread his letter, she said, 'No worries, send it over.'
Usage Note
Only used in informal spoken English. Often followed by a statement confirming what you will do ('No worries, I'll…').
Word family
- worriedadjectiveA2
- worryingadjectiveB1
- worriernounB2
- worrisomeadjectiveC1
- worryinglyadverbB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Worry is the most general word for feeling anxious about possible problems — you can worry about anything from exam results to world events. Fret suggests worrying about small things while showing visible irritation, such as pacing or sighing; people fret over minor delays or tiny mistakes. Agonize describes a longer, more intense period of worry, especially when making a difficult decision — you agonize over which job offer to accept for days or weeks. Panic is sudden and overwhelming: you panic when the danger feels immediate and you cannot think clearly. For everyday concerns, use 'worry'. For small, irritable anxiety about details, try 'fret'. For drawn-out inner turmoil over a choice, use 'agonize'. For sudden, paralysing fear in an urgent moment, use 'panic'.
Common collocations
Adverbs
Phrases
- cause for worry
- source of worry
- no point worrying
- worry oneself sick
Etymology
The word 'worry' comes from Old English 'wyrigan', which meant 'to strangle or choke'. In Middle English, the meaning shifted to 'to seize by the throat and tear at' (used of animals attacking each other). By the 16th century, people began using it for mental distress: the idea of something 'choking' or 'gnawing at' your mind. The modern meaning of 'feeling anxious about problems' became common in the 19th century.