anxious interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious interest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling of eagerness or concern about something, often in a context where there is uncertainty or anticipation. Example: "The announcement of the new product generated an anxious interest among consumers, who were eager to learn more about its features."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Other children in the group watch with anxious interest to see what they will do next.

The Guardian

But the Book Review also criticized the memoir for its "anxious interest in matters that are personal and even trivial".

The New York Times

I watched with anxious interest as the other members of the ensemble shifted away from him with distaste and unease.

The Guardian - Film

Now, with the ascendancy of far-right regimes around the world, there is a new, anxious interest in South Africa's political model — or, rather, in its cautionary exemplum.

The New Yorker

Ironically, the downfall of Mr Milosevic wrongly assumed by many western politicians to mark the beginning and end of criminal nationalism in the Balkans may drain the energy available to wrestle with that demon in other places.Throughout former Yugoslavia, politicians are watching developments in neighbouring republics with anxious interest.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Despite this clear conflict of interest, anxious participants were very receptive to the biased advice.

Harvard University

You can do this at the start your class or when you start to see students become anxious or lose interest.

The Guardian

In a 2000 study led by Aaron Black of the University of Rochester, students who sensed more teacher support for autonomy felt more competent and less anxious, reported more interest and enjoyment in their work, and produced higher-quality work in their class than students who didn't believe they had as much autonomy.

University of California, Berkeley

RCA, which had enjoyed a steady stream of product from Presley for over a decade, grew anxious as his interest in spending time in the studio waned.

Wikipedia

The level of anxious or amused interest was sustained to such an extent that in 1956 Hamish Hamilton reproduced the article in a short book, entitled Noblesse Oblige.

Wikipedia

Public pension funds have also joined together to lobby against a reduction in the SEC's power.As I said yesterday, if there is pressure being applied to legislators by interests anxious in derailing reform, that's understandable if unfortunate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anxious interest" when you want to convey a sense of both concern and eagerness regarding an uncertain outcome. This phrase is particularly effective when the subject is anticipating something with potentially negative consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious interest" when a simpler term like "interest" or "curiosity" would suffice. The "anxious" component adds a layer of worry that should be contextually justified, not applied generically.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious interest" functions as a noun phrase, where "anxious" modifies the noun "interest". It typically describes a state of mind characterized by both eagerness and worry. As Ludwig AI says, it is grammatically correct and can be used to describe such feelings.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0.02%

Science

9.98%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anxious interest" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a blend of worry and curiosity, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not overly common, it effectively conveys a mixed emotional state, particularly in contexts where the outcome is uncertain and potentially negative. It is most frequently found in news and media, and academic writing. When writing, ensure that the context justifies the "anxious" component to avoid misusing the phrase. Alternatives like "nervous curiosity" or "eager anticipation" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nervous curiosity

Directly replaces "anxious" with "nervous" and "interest" with "curiosity", maintaining a close semantic equivalence.

apprehensive curiosity

Substitutes "anxious" with "apprehensive", suggesting a slight fear alongside curiosity.

uneasy interest

Highlights the uneasy feeling while keeping the interest.

concerned attention

Highlights the aspect of being concerned and paying attention.

worried fascination

Emphasizes the worry component more strongly than the interest.

intrigued apprehension

Reverses the focus slightly, emphasizing the intrigue more than the anxiety.

eager anticipation

Focuses more on the positive anticipation aspect, with less emphasis on anxiety.

restless anticipation

Focuses on the restless feeling while waiting for something.

keen concern

Emphasizes the concern or worry and replaces "interest" with a synonym.

solicitous curiosity

Implies a caring or protective element to the curiosity.

FAQs

How can I use "anxious interest" in a sentence?

You can use "anxious interest" to describe a feeling of being both worried and curious about something, as in "The team watched with "anxious interest" as the election results were announced".

What are some alternatives to "anxious interest"?

Depending on the context, you might use alternatives like "nervous curiosity", "eager anticipation", or "worried fascination".

Is "anxious interest" formal or informal?

"Anxious interest" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in neutral or slightly formal writing. It is suitable for news articles, academic papers, and general discussions.

What's the difference between "anxious interest" and "general interest"?

"Anxious interest" implies a degree of worry or concern alongside curiosity, while "general interest" simply means that something is appealing or relevant to many people. The former conveys a more intense and potentially negative emotional connection.