anxious to secure

USAGE SUMMARY

"anxious to secure" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when expressing a strong desire or eagerness to obtain something. Example: She was anxious to secure a position at the prestigious firm. Alternative expressions include "eager to obtain" and "keen to acquire."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Japan, anxious to secure its maritime lifeline, has also been pushing for more active collaboration.

The Economist

Newcastle were anxious to secure an away goal and, after only 11 minutes, they had one.

The Guardian - Sport

Bellamy is anxious to secure regular first-team football having recently stressed he feels "fitter than ever".

The Guardian - Sport

"Bath will be a huge challenge as they will be anxious to secure a home Premiership semi-final," Humphreys said.

The Guardian - Sport

The Palestinian leadership was anxious to secure a tangible gain for returning to the negotiations process amid deep public scepticism.

The Guardian

With a record number of drug patents soon to expire, the world's pharmaceutical giants are understandably anxious to secure future markets.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

One Fourth of it will not Amount to 200 Bibles for each State; And as I am anxious merely to secure the sale of the Books, it will not be inconsistent with my views to allow a Moderate Credit".(14).

Huffington Post

Yomi, 55, a council worker, saw his salary drop two years ago (after 23 years in the sector) from £46,000 to £28,000, when he switched from temping to a more secure post, anxious to ensure he had steady work at a time of rising redundancies.

The Guardian - Business

If the rumours washing through media circles about Sky's falling number of subscribers are true (17 per cent down on last year and counting), Murdoch will be more anxious than ever to secure United.

The Guardian - Sport

We don't really need to secure the oil, because the Muslim countries are even more anxious to sell it than we are to buy it.

Huffington Post

"First priority: to secure.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your vocabulary to avoid overuse. While "anxious to secure" is appropriate in many contexts, consider alternatives like "eager to obtain" or "intent on securing" for stylistic variation.

Common error

While "anxious" can convey eagerness, overuse in formal writing may suggest nervousness or worry. In such cases, replace "anxious" with stronger alternatives such as "determined", "eager", or "keen" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to secure" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a subject, indicating a state of eagerness or urgency regarding the act of securing something. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anxious to secure" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a strong desire or eagerness to obtain, ensure, or protect something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. While versatile, it's important to consider the specific context and choose alternatives when a more formal or nuanced tone is required. Key considerations include ensuring clarity in what is being secured and avoiding overuse in formal writing to prevent unintended implications of nervousness. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to obtain

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

keen to acquire

Substitutes "anxious" with "keen" and "secure" with "acquire", suggesting a strong desire to get something.

determined to gain

Replaces "anxious" with "determined", highlighting resolve.

intent on obtaining

Changes "anxious" to "intent" and "secure" to "obtaining", focusing on purposefulness.

resolved to achieve

Replaces the entire phrase with a focus on determination to accomplish a goal.

striving to attain

Highlights the effort being made to reach a certain level.

aspiring to gain

Emphasizes the aspirational nature of the desire.

pursuing to acquire

Focuses on the active chase to get something.

aiming to lock down

Uses a more informal expression, "lock down", to replace "secure".

seeking to guarantee

Shifts the focus to ensuring something is certain, rather than just obtaining it.

FAQs

What does "anxious to secure" mean?

The phrase "anxious to secure" means being eager and motivated to obtain, ensure, or protect something. It implies a sense of urgency and strong desire to achieve a specific goal.

What can I say instead of "anxious to secure"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to obtain", "keen to acquire", or "determined to gain" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "anxious to secure" in formal writing?

Yes, it is generally appropriate, but consider the specific context. In very formal settings, you might prefer alternatives that emphasize determination or intent, such as "intent on obtaining" or "resolved to achieve".

How does "anxious to secure" differ from "want to secure"?

While both phrases express a desire to obtain something, "anxious to secure" implies a higher degree of eagerness, urgency, or concern compared to simply "want to secure". "Anxious" suggests a stronger emotional investment in the outcome.