anxious to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious to understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a strong desire or eagerness to gain knowledge or clarity about a particular subject or situation. Example: "She was anxious to understand the complexities of the new project before making any decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I was anxious to understand him, yet too much was left unexplored.

The Guardian - Books

Not so Jon Ronson, a new boy anxious to understand the thrill of all that sniffing and spitting.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But he seemed thrilled and privileged to be there in the midst of all the action and the history, and anxious to understand and document everything he saw.

The New Yorker

Until the end, he spent time at New Horizon's offices, oblivious to its users' sometimes rough teasing, anxious to understand what had alienated them from the mainstream.

The Guardian

Scientists are anxious to understand the relationship between BSE and two other related neurodegenerative diseases: scrapie, which afflicts sheep, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which has killed nearly 90 people in the United Kingdom and three in France.

Science Magazine

"You should be aware that I have been contacted by the chapter president, and he is anxious to understand exactly what you and your friend experienced," Howard wrote to the student, in an email obtained by the Yale Daily News.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And perhaps it helps anxious parents to understand that children are programmed to react like this.

Independent

On the basis of these findings, the authors concluded that the model can be used in the development of cognitive behavioral case formulations for socially anxious adolescents, to understand symptoms and thus to guide treatment planning.

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review

Instead of worrying about how you come off or what you should say next, you should watch other people to have a sense of their moods, to see if they are worried or anxious, and to understand how they interact with each other.

WikiHow

For those who get the market, they will be anxious to see the product and understand if it works.

The Times

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

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "anxious to understand" when you want to emphasize not only the desire to understand something but also a degree of concern or unease that accompanies that desire.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious to understand" in highly formal or academic writing if a more neutral term like "eager" or "interested" would be more appropriate. The term "anxious" can sometimes imply worry, which may not be the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to understand" primarily functions as an infinitive phrase acting as an adjective, modifying a subject by expressing their state of mind or eagerness toward comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Science & Research

14%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "anxious to understand" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating a strong desire and perhaps some unease related to comprehending something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. While primarily found in news and media, science, and research contexts, it is less common in formal academic or business settings. When using this phrase, be mindful of the subtle implications of anxiety and consider more neutral alternatives like "eager" or "keen" if a purely positive sentiment is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to comprehend

Replaces "anxious" with "eager" and "understand" with "comprehend", implying a more straightforward eagerness.

keen to grasp

Uses "keen" instead of "anxious", suggesting enthusiasm, and "grasp" instead of "understand", indicating a desire to quickly learn.

desirous of understanding

Employs "desirous", a more formal synonym for "anxious", and maintains the core meaning of wanting to understand.

intent on understanding

Replaces "anxious" with "intent", conveying a strong focus and determination to understand.

determined to understand

Similar to "intent on understanding", but emphasizes resolve.

motivated to comprehend

Highlights the underlying motivation to understand something thoroughly.

driven to understand

Suggests a powerful, internal force compelling understanding.

strongly desire to understand

Expresses a powerful wish to gain understanding.

have a strong urge to understand

Conveys a compelling internal desire to achieve understanding.

feel compelled to understand

Implies an internal pressure or obligation to understand something.

FAQs

How can I use "anxious to understand" in a sentence?

You can use "anxious to understand" to express a strong desire or eagerness to comprehend something, often tinged with a bit of worry or concern. For example, "She was "anxious to understand" the new policy before it was implemented."

What's a less emotionally charged alternative to "anxious to understand"?

If you want to convey eagerness without the implication of worry, consider using phrases like "eager to comprehend" or "keen to grasp".

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

While "anxious to understand" is grammatically correct, it's more common in neutral to slightly informal contexts. In highly formal or academic writing, consider more neutral alternatives to avoid any unintended connotations of worry or unease.

What is the difference between "anxious to understand" and "trying to understand"?

"Anxious to understand" emphasizes eagerness and a potential sense of urgency, while "trying to understand" simply describes the process of attempting to comprehend something without necessarily conveying strong emotion.