anxiously seeking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxiously seeking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone who is eagerly or nervously looking for something or someone. Example: "She was anxiously seeking a solution to the problem that had been troubling her for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

In Denver, many were anxiously seeking out news updates on the efforts to contain the oil.

The New York Times

He found Lula deeply traumatized and starving; her snout protruded through her cage's rusted bars, anxiously seeking food and water.

The New Yorker

Anxiously seeking information or solace, she took to Internet chat rooms, forming a powerful digital bond with other families from the battalion, whom she never met in person.

The New York Times

With China luring an increasing amount of investment and trade away from Southeast Asia, Singapore has been anxiously seeking more far-reaching economic ties.

The New York Times

"Protest," the most harrowing of the three, is about a novelist who has sacrificed his art and his honor and is anxiously seeking respect from his old friend, Vanek.

The New York Times

While he is desperately trying to get into Britain, a young Somalian, Bashir, is anxiously seeking to stay and finds himself stuck in a legal limbo as a naturalised Brit who never acquired full citizenship.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

But his experiences did not offer a clue to a reliable elixir anxiously sought by long-lifeists.

The Economist

Newspapers were becoming more popular, and people anxiously sought them out to inform themselves about the newest trends.

Independent

The punitive steps had been anxiously sought by some members of Congress, which, in 2003, passed the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act.

The New York Times

But by the time lawmakers headed home last week for a recess and the administration anxiously sought to nail down undecided votes, the idea was catching on.

The New York Times

Wherever Ahmed was originally from, I'm pretty confident in my declaration that there, his approval was not so anxiously sought, or so freely given.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "anxiously seeking", ensure that the context clearly conveys both the eagerness and the underlying worry or concern driving the search. For instance, "The company was anxiously seeking new investors as the deadline approached" effectively communicates both the desire for investment and the concern about meeting the deadline.

Common error

Avoid using "anxiously seeking" when the situation primarily involves eagerness without significant worry. Using "eagerly seeking" or "enthusiastically seeking" can be more appropriate if the situation does not include worry.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxiously seeking" functions as an adverbial modifier plus a present participle, describing an action performed with anxiety. Ludwig AI showcases its use in various contexts, from individuals seeking information to entities pursuing goals with underlying concerns.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

8%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anxiously seeking" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that communicates the act of searching with a blend of eagerness and worry. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and presence in diverse contexts, especially in News & Media. While semantically similar alternatives like "eagerly pursuing" or "nervously searching" exist, they subtly shift the emphasis. When using this phrase, consider the balance between eagerness and anxiety to accurately portray the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eagerly pursuing

Replaces "anxiously" with "eagerly", indicating enthusiasm rather than worry. Changes the verb "seeking" to "pursuing" to mean making an effort to gain something.

nervously searching

Substitutes "anxiously" with "nervously", highlighting the nervous aspect of the search. Changes "seeking" to "searching" to specify looking for something.

desperately looking for

Emphasizes the urgency and desperation in the search, changing "anxiously" to "desperately" and "seeking" to "looking for".

urgently trying to find

Replaces "anxiously seeking" with a more direct expression of urgency, indicating an immediate need to locate something.

keenly hunting for

Indicates an intense and focused search, using "keenly" instead of "anxiously" to reflect a sense of sharp interest. Changes the verb "seeking" to "hunting for" implying intensity.

worriedly trying to obtain

Substitutes "anxiously" with "worriedly" to highlight the worry associated with the search and "seeking" to "trying to obtain".

earnestly striving for

Replaces the feeling of anxiety with "earnestly", which expresses a sincere and serious effort, with "seeking" changed to "striving for".

intently scouting for

Shifts the focus to a concentrated effort to find something, replacing "anxiously" with "intently" and "seeking" to "scouting for".

frantically attempting to locate

Emphasizes the chaotic and rushed nature of the search, substituting "anxiously" with "frantically" and "seeking" with "attempting to locate".

apprehensively pursuing

Highlights the apprehension associated with the pursuit, replacing "anxiously" with "apprehensively".

FAQs

What does "anxiously seeking" mean?

The phrase "anxiously seeking" describes someone who is eagerly looking for something, but with a sense of worry or unease. It suggests a combination of desire and apprehension in the search.

What are some alternatives to "anxiously seeking"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "eagerly pursuing", "nervously searching", or "desperately looking for".

How can I use "anxiously seeking" in a sentence?

You can use "anxiously seeking" to describe a person, group, or entity that is looking for something with both eagerness and anxiety. For example, "The refugees were anxiously seeking shelter from the storm."

Is there a difference between "anxiously seeking" and "eagerly seeking"?

Yes, while both phrases indicate a strong desire to find something, "anxiously seeking" implies a degree of worry or unease that is not present in "eagerly seeking". "Anxiously seeking" suggests a more pressing need or concern.