nervous

Everyday

1. Nervous means feeling worried or a little scared about something that is going to happen. tree →
2. A nervous person or animal is easily frightened or upset. tree →
3. The nervous system is the brain, spinal cord and nerves that carry messages around the body. tree →

In the lessons

In feelings lessons, being nervous before a test, a show or a first day is normal; deep breaths and talking help. You might have butterflies in your tummy, sweaty hands or a fast heartbeat. In science, the nervous system lets you feel, think and move. In stories, a nervous character shows fear or doubt. Phrases: nervous about, nervous of, feel nervous, a nervous wreck, the nervous system.

Examples

• I feel nervous about my test tomorrow. tree →
• The new boy was nervous on his first day. tree →
• Horses get nervous in thunderstorms. tree →
• She gave a nervous laugh. tree →
• The nervous system carries messages from the brain. tree →
• It's normal to feel nervous before a race. tree →
• With a little trouble he found the tree the doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he climbed up into it. tree →

Note

Say "nervous about" a thing (nervous about the play) or "nervous of" something that frightens (nervous of dogs). Nervous is milder than terrified. "Nervous" does not mean angry; "on my nerves" (annoying) is different.