anxious to wait

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious to wait" is not correct in standard English usage.
Typically, "anxious" conveys a sense of worry or unease, while "eager" would be more appropriate for expressing a desire to wait. Example: "I am eager to wait for the results of the competition."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

(Any reader too anxious to wait can find out what becomes of Jim and Chrissie by looking backward to Earley's first book).

The New York Times - Books

A day later, too anxious to wait helplessly any longer, he packed a small yellow daypack with a few changes of clothes, plastic containers of homemade chicken and roti, and a folder of paperwork, protected in plastic sleeves.

The New York Times - Sports

Some people might be a little anxious to wait 84 years for their first "legal" drink, but Tempest Storm says she never drinks so she is looking forward to other aspects of her unique once-every-four-years birthday.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As the report confirms, he later reported for duty and took charge of police operations at the Hillsborough boys' club, a rundown facility where police had told anxious families to wait for news of missing relatives.

The Guardian - Sport

With the Australian team management anxious to avoid waiting until the day of the game to assess his availability, McGrath will complete a bowling session at The Oval which will determine whether his right elbow has healed sufficiently for him to play in the Ashes decider.

The Guardian - Sport

Come Monday, anxious runners will have to wait.

The New York Times

But anxious critics will have to wait and see whether there is a third Nativity film.

The Guardian - Film

Nevertheless the anxious Ferrari team had to wait nervously to see that Rosberg, Kubica and Heidfeld were safely across the line before uncorking the champagne.

The Guardian - Sport

Don't get too anxious, you'll have to wait a few days for the birds to get used to the object being there.

WikiHow

We couldn't move, and had to wait -- anxious and afraid -- for many hours.

Huffington Post

This morning he asked me to drive him over, and as I watched the visibly anxious children wait to be let inside the locked doors, I wondered how they could possibly process the new idea of a terrorist who lived down the road and went to school with their siblings and neighbors, a threat from within.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing anticipation, consider using "eager" instead of "anxious" to convey a positive feeling. "Anxious" usually implies worry or unease, making "eager to wait" a more appropriate choice for expressing excitement or anticipation for something to come.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious" when you mean "eager" or "excited". "Anxious" suggests unease or worry, while "eager" conveys positive anticipation. Choose the word that accurately reflects the intended emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to wait" functions as an adjective phrase, aiming to describe a state of anticipation or impatience. As Ludwig suggests, however, "anxious" often carries a connotation of worry, making it an unusual choice in this context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "anxious to wait" may appear in various contexts, primarily in News & Media, its usage is considered grammatically questionable due to the negative connotation of "anxious." As Ludwig AI suggests, alternative phrases like "eager to" or "looking forward to" are often more appropriate for conveying anticipation without the implication of worry. Therefore, when aiming for clarity and precision in writing, it is advisable to opt for alternatives that better reflect the intended sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to wait

Replaces "anxious" with "eager" to better reflect a positive anticipation.

impatient to wait

Emphasizes the feeling of impatience rather than anxiety while waiting.

restless to wait

Highlights the inability to remain still or calm while waiting.

can't wait to wait

Uses a more informal expression to convey excitement about the waiting period.

anxiously anticipating the wait

Rephrases to focus on anticipating the waiting period itself.

eagerly anticipating the wait

Replaces "anxious" with "eagerly" to better reflect a positive anticipation about the waiting period itself.

anxious about the upcoming wait

Expresses worry regarding the period of waiting, rather than the activity itself.

nervous about the wait

Focuses on the feeling of nervousness associated with the upcoming waiting time.

apprehensive about the wait

Highlights the feeling of apprehension experienced during the waiting period.

with bated breath

Implies a state of high anticipation and suspense while waiting.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate phrase to use instead of "anxious to wait"?

Considering that "anxious" suggests worry, it's better to use "eager to" or "looking forward to" when you want to convey excitement about waiting for something.

Is "anxious to wait" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "anxious to wait" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The term "anxious" typically implies a negative anticipation, so using a word like "eager" is more appropriate.

How can I use "eager to wait" in a sentence?

You can use "eager to wait" in sentences like, "I am "eager to" wait for the results of the competition" or "She was "eager to" wait and see what would happen next".

What's the difference between "anxious to wait" and ""eager to" wait"?

"Anxious to wait" implies worry or unease about the waiting period, while ""eager to" wait" suggests a positive anticipation and excitement.