grew nervous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grew nervous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a gradual increase in anxiety or apprehension in a person over time or in response to a situation. Example: "As the deadline approached, she grew nervous about the presentation she had to give."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

But as dinnertime approached you would notice that we grew nervous.

The New Yorker

As it became evident to me that I was floundering in my mission, I grew nervous and edgy.

The New York Times

"A few years ago, I.B.M. had this aura of invincibility," he added, an aura so strong that the company grew nervous about renewed questions concerning its market power.

The New York Times

Not only did this threaten progress, but it also endangered the acquisition of internal resources from their own business side, because people grew nervous.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Arledge's superiors grew nervous.

The New Yorker

Foreign debt-holders grew nervous.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

But when the Hilliard's director of development chatted with Father Scott about the church and his acquaintances in deeply Roman Catholic southern Louisiana, the man grew nervous.

The New York Times - Arts

The gun owner reportedly grew nervous as he watched the weapon get passed from one drunk person to another and tried to wrestle it away from the victim.

The New York Times

Yet even Mr. Ubaid, telling his story in English, grew nervous.

The New York Times

Despite holding the edge, Everton grew nervous as full-time approached and Liverpool sensed punishment.

The Guardian - Sport

As the weeks passed, I grew nervous, then began to agonise.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grew nervous" to describe a gradual increase in anxiety or apprehension, particularly when detailing a character's emotional state or a situation's escalating tension.

Common error

While "grew nervous" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal documents. Opt for stronger, more precise synonyms like "became apprehensive" or "developed anxiety" to convey a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew nervous" functions as a verbal phrase, where "grew" acts as a linking verb connecting the subject to the adjective "nervous", describing a state of being. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grew nervous" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a gradual increase in anxiety or apprehension. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its usage spans across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general conversation, with the bulk of examples found in news and media. While acceptable in most situations, remember to consider stronger synonyms for formal writing to enhance precision. "Grew nervous" effectively communicates a change in emotional state and is well-understood across diverse audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became anxious

Replaces "grew" with "became" and "nervous" with "anxious", offering a more common synonym.

turned anxious

Similar to "became anxious", but with a slightly different emphasis on the change in state.

became apprehensive

Substitutes "nervous" with "apprehensive", suggesting a more formal and cautious tone.

started to worry

Indicates the beginning of worry, rather than a gradual increase in nervousness.

felt uneasy

Conveys a general sense of discomfort and anxiety, less specific than "nervous".

got worried

A more informal way of saying "started to worry".

developed anxiety

Highlights the development of anxiety, possibly over a longer period.

began to fret

Suggests a more active and agitated form of worrying.

became agitated

Implies a higher level of disturbance and restlessness than simply being nervous.

felt stressed

Indicates a general state of being under pressure, which may or may not manifest as nervousness.

FAQs

How can I use "grew nervous" in a sentence?

You can use "grew nervous" to describe a gradual increase in someone's anxiety or apprehension over time. For example, "As the deadline approached, she "grew nervous" about the presentation".

What are some alternatives to "grew nervous"?

You can use alternatives like "became anxious", "started to worry", or "became apprehensive" depending on the context.

Is "grew nervous" formal or informal?

"Grew nervous" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "grew nervous" and "became nervous"?

While both phrases are similar, ""grew nervous"" suggests a more gradual increase in anxiety over time, whereas "became nervous" implies a more sudden shift in emotional state.