became anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "became anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a change in emotional state, typically when someone starts to feel nervous or worried about something. Example: "As the deadline approached, she became anxious about completing the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hunter became anxious.

MIT Technology Review

Ashford became anxious.

The Guardian

Garner became anxious.

The New Yorker

When this symptom appeared she became anxious.

The New Yorker

She became anxious and unhappy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Long enough that I became anxious about revisiting it.

The New York Times

I became anxious, depressed, suffered from extreme insomnia.

The Guardian - Opinion

I became anxious around things I couldn't control, like unexpected changes of plans and minor injuries.

University of California, Berkeley

She was very excited at first; then as it sank in, she became anxious.

Independent

There was a time when I became anxious about flying, but I'm no longer that nervous.

The New York Times

But the heat wave continued into a second week, demand outstripped supply, and Just became anxious.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "became anxious" to clearly indicate a change in emotional state, especially when describing a character's reaction to a specific event or situation. It effectively conveys the onset of worry or nervousness.

Common error

While "became anxious" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal or academic writing. Opt for more nuanced synonyms like "grew concerned" or "turned apprehensive" to maintain a sophisticated tone and avoid repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became anxious" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change in emotional state. It describes the process of someone transitioning into a state of anxiety. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is widely used across various contexts, effectively conveying the onset of worry or nervousness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "became anxious" is a versatile and widely used verb phrase that effectively conveys the onset of worry or nervousness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, especially in News & Media sources. While perfectly acceptable, writers should consider more nuanced alternatives like "grew worried" or "turned apprehensive" for formal writing to enhance style and avoid overuse. Remember, "became anxious" accurately describes a shift into a state of anxiety, helping you craft compelling narratives and relatable character emotions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became nervous

A direct synonym for becoming anxious, highlighting the feeling of nervousness.

started to feel anxious

Emphasizes the sensory experience of anxiety, focusing on the physical and emotional feelings.

grew worried

Implies a gradual increase in worry, similar to becoming anxious but emphasizes the process.

started to worry

Focuses on the initiation of worry, directly indicating the beginning of an anxious state.

turned apprehensive

Suggests a more formal and cautious type of anxiety, often related to future events.

grew uneasy

Emphasizes a lack of comfort and a sense of disquiet, which can be a component of anxiety.

developed anxiety

Indicates the emergence of anxiety as a condition or state.

was filled with worry

Highlights the overwhelming feeling of worry, a more intense version of becoming anxious.

found oneself worrying

Focuses on the involuntary aspect of anxiety, suggesting a lack of control over the worrying.

succumbed to anxiety

Implies a yielding to the power of anxiety, suggesting a loss of resistance.

FAQs

How can I use "became anxious" in a sentence?

You can use "became anxious" to describe someone starting to feel worried or nervous: "As the deadline approached, she "became anxious" about the project's completion".

What can I say instead of "became anxious"?

You can use alternatives like "grew worried", "started to worry", or "became nervous" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "become anxious" or "became anxious"?

"Become anxious" is the infinitive form, while "became anxious" is the past tense. Use "became anxious" when describing something that happened in the past: "He "became anxious" when he realized he was lost".

What's the difference between "became anxious" and "felt anxious"?

"Became anxious" emphasizes the transition into an anxious state, while "felt anxious" emphasizes the experience of anxiety. "Became anxious" suggests the start of the feeling, and "felt anxious" is about sensing it.