I felt apprehensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I felt apprehensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing feelings of anxiety or unease about a situation or event. Example: "As I approached the stage to give my speech, I felt apprehensive about speaking in front of such a large audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Still, I felt apprehensive when we drove to a local farm and arrived back home with our three new hens.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When I first heard about "Lady Dynamite," Bamford's new Netflix series, I felt apprehensive, having been burned, in recent months, by too many floppy, over-extended dramedies produced by streaming neworks, such as "Love" and "Casual".

The New Yorker

I felt apprehensive about being there, even if all 20 of us were seemingly in the same boat.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And yet I feel apprehensive, at best.

The Guardian - Sport

His wife, Azizah Ismail, said: "I feel apprehensive because my husband … is not that well.

The Guardian

I just felt apprehensive for two hours".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She said she felt apprehensive about the walkout: "I didn't ever expect to ever be doing this in my whole working life.

BBC

I imagine that most boys in junior high school felt apprehensive at the prospect of being nude in front of others.

Huffington Post

Some felt apprehensive about teaching evolution or a need to accommodate religion because of perceived controversy: - I don't even feel, I suppose I'd be a bit of an atheist anyway, but I don't know that I would feel comfortable teaching something like evolution in the classroom because you're not sure how to be middle of the road without putting your point of view across.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

He said that he felt "apprehensive" about the move.

The New Yorker

But watching Mr. Brown bask in his moment of triumph, Mr. Castaneda said, he also felt apprehensive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "I felt apprehensive" when you want to express a sense of unease or anxiety about something specific, rather than a general feeling of fear. For example, "I felt apprehensive about the upcoming presentation" is more precise than "I was scared."

Common error

While "I felt apprehensive" is generally acceptable, be mindful of the formality of your writing. In highly formal contexts, consider alternatives like "I experienced trepidation" or "I held reservations".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I felt apprehensive" functions as a statement of personal feeling or emotion. It indicates the subject's (I) experience of apprehension, meaning anxiety or unease about something that might happen. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct to use this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I felt apprehensive" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express feelings of anxiety or unease. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Although categorized as "uncommon" in terms of frequency, it appears in various contexts, including news and media, and science. While suitable for neutral registers, considering synonyms like "I felt uneasy" or "I was anxious" might be preferable in casual conversations or, conversely, more formal alternatives should be preferred for academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was filled with apprehension

Emphasizes the intensity and overwhelming nature of the feeling.

I felt uneasy

Describes a general feeling of discomfort and lack of peace.

I experienced a sense of foreboding

Suggests a feeling that something bad is going to happen.

I was in a state of trepidation

Highlights a formal expression of fear or anxiety about what may happen.

I was nervous about the situation

Indicates worry specifically tied to the current circumstances.

I was anxious about it

A simpler and more direct way of expressing anxiety.

I was fearful of the outcome

Specifies the fear is about a potential result.

I had a nagging worry

Focuses on the persistent and bothersome nature of the worry.

I felt a knot in my stomach

Describes a physical sensation of anxiety.

I was on edge

Indicates a state of heightened nervousness and unease.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I felt apprehensive"?

You can use alternatives like "I felt uneasy", "I was anxious", or "I was concerned" depending on the specific context.

How can "I felt apprehensive" be used effectively in a sentence?

Use "I felt apprehensive" to express a specific feeling of anxiety or unease about an upcoming event or situation. For example, "I felt apprehensive about meeting my partner's parents for the first time."

Is "I felt apprehensive" too formal for casual conversation?

While "I felt apprehensive" isn't overly formal, it might sound slightly elevated in very casual settings. In those cases, consider alternatives like "I felt nervous" or "I was worried".

What's the difference between "I felt apprehensive" and "I felt afraid"?

"I felt apprehensive" implies a sense of unease or anxiety about a potential future event, while "I felt afraid" suggests a stronger emotion of fear, often in response to an immediate threat or danger.