anxious to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious to be" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to express a strong desire to do something. For example: "I am anxious to be the first one to sign up for the new class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I'm real anxious, to be honest.

The New York Times - Sports

"He's anxious to be part of this.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm real anxious to be honest," he said.

The New York Times

Politicians were anxious to be photographed with them.

The Economist

Chastened by their scepticism, I'm anxious to be fair.

The Guardian

The BBC is anxious to be at the forefront of media technology.

Independent

All of them are anxious to be accepted by the peasants - to be like them.

The New Yorker

They become bored and anxious to be remembered for more than making a fortune.

The Guardian

Dr. Mooney was semiretired and anxious to be rid of it.

The New York Times

She says, "This person is not the soul she's anxious to be".

The New Yorker

"The voice is its own language," she said, anxious to be understood.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anxious to be" when you want to convey a sense of eagerness mixed with a slight unease or nervousness. It's suitable when anticipation might also carry a hint of worry or concern.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious to be" when the situation is purely positive and excitement is the only emotion. In such cases, phrases like "eager to be" or "excited to be" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to be" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a subject. It describes the subject's state of mind, indicating a feeling of eagerness, often tinged with nervousness or unease, toward a future state or action. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe a person's desire.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "anxious to be" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to express eagerness or strong desire, often mixed with a degree of nervousness or unease. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's important to consider the context when using this phrase. While it appears most frequently in news and media sources, it's crucial to differentiate its nuanced meaning from purely positive expressions like "eager to be" or "excited to be". When you want to convey both anticipation and a hint of worry, "anxious to be" is an apt choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to be

Replaces "anxious" with "eager", emphasizing enthusiasm and anticipation.

keen to be

Uses "keen" instead of "anxious", highlighting a strong interest or enthusiasm.

can't wait to be

Expresses impatience and excitement about an upcoming event or situation.

desirous of being

Replaces "anxious" with "desirous", creating a more formal tone and emphasizing the wish to be in a certain state.

excited to be

Focuses on the positive emotion of excitement rather than anxiety.

longing to be

Substitutes "anxious" with "longing", expressing a deep yearning or desire.

looking forward to being

Emphasizes anticipation and positive expectation of a future state.

yearning to be

Similar to "longing to be", but emphasizes a more intense and emotional desire.

itching to be

Uses "itching" to convey a restless eagerness to do something.

aspiring to be

Highlights the ambition and desire to reach a specific goal or position.

FAQs

What does "anxious to be" mean?

The phrase "anxious to be" expresses a strong desire or eagerness to experience something or to be in a particular state. It often carries a sense of anticipation mixed with a slight unease or worry.

How to use "anxious to be" in a sentence?

You can use "anxious to be" when describing someone's eagerness to participate in an activity or to achieve a goal. For example: "He was anxious to be part of the team."

Which is more appropriate, "eager to be" or "anxious to be"?

While both express a strong desire, "anxious to be" implies a sense of worry or nervousness alongside eagerness. Use "eager to be" when the situation is purely positive and excitement is the primary emotion.

What are some alternatives to "anxious to be"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to be", "keen to be", or "excited to be" depending on the context and the specific emotion you want to convey.