feel anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

"feel anxious" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use it to describe how someone is feeling, either figuratively or literally. For example, "Her stomach churned as she felt anxious about her upcoming exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I started to feel anxious, depressed, restless.

The New York Times - Books

No, I mean, I definitely feel anxious.

The New York Times

Many women feel anxious about giving birth.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It makes me feel anxious," she said.

The Guardian

"I just don't want to feel anxious".

The New York Times

But now he began to feel anxious.

The New Yorker

I feel anxious and protective about it.

The Guardian - Books

If I don't, I feel anxious.

The Guardian - Tech

Should we feel anxious about this?

The Guardian

"They feel anxious about trade … about foreign investment, and they feel anxious about foreign investment".

The Guardian

If you feel anxious now and then, that's perfectly normal.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel anxious" to express a general sense of worry, nervousness, or unease. It's suitable for describing both temporary and ongoing states of anxiety.

Common error

While "feel anxious" is widely understood, overuse in formal writing can sound less professional. Opt for stronger verbs or more specific descriptions of anxiety, such as "experience apprehension" or "demonstrate heightened concern" in academic papers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel anxious" functions primarily as a descriptive expression, indicating a subjective emotional state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common way to convey worry, nervousness, or unease. Examples from Ludwig show it used to describe feelings about specific events or general situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

22%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feel anxious" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a state of worry, nervousness, or unease. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's versatile and appropriate in numerous contexts, ranging from informal conversations to news reports and academic writing. Ludwig examples demonstrate that the expression is most commonly found in News & Media and Academia. While "feel anxious" is generally neutral, being mindful of potentially more formal alternatives like "experience apprehension" can enhance precision, especially in professional or scientific contexts. In essence, "feel anxious" is a reliable and widely understood way to communicate a common human emotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experience anxiety

Replaces the verb 'feel' with 'experience', emphasizing the sensation of anxiety.

suffer from anxiety

Highlights a more prolonged or intense experience of anxiety.

be worried

A simpler and more general way to express feeling anxious.

be apprehensive

Suggests a feeling of unease or dread about the future.

be stressed

Focuses on the feeling of being under pressure, which can lead to anxiety.

be uneasy

Implies a lack of comfort or peace of mind.

be nervous

Expresses a state of agitation or excitement, often before an event.

be on edge

Suggests a state of heightened alertness and tension.

have butterflies in your stomach

An idiomatic expression for feeling nervous, usually before a specific event.

be in a state of unease

Emphasizes the condition of lacking peace of mind.

FAQs

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

You can use "feel anxious" to describe a state of worry or nervousness. For example, "I "feel anxious" about the upcoming exam" or "Many people "feel anxious" before public speaking".

What are some alternatives to "feel anxious"?

Alternatives to "feel anxious" include "experience anxiety", "be worried", or "be nervous". The best choice depends on the specific context and the intensity of the feeling.

Is it grammatically correct to say "feel anxious"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Feel" is a linking verb, and "anxious" is an adjective describing the state of being. Therefore, "feel anxious" is a standard and accepted construction.

What's the difference between "feel anxious" and "have anxiety"?

"Feel anxious" describes a temporary state of worry or nervousness, while "have anxiety" can refer to a more persistent condition or a diagnosed anxiety disorder. "I "feel anxious" about the presentation" suggests a specific event is causing worry, whereas "I "have anxiety"" implies a more ongoing issue.