grows anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grows anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone becoming increasingly worried or uneasy over time. Example: "As the deadline approached, she grows anxious about completing the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Lin grows anxious and then frightened.

The New Yorker

Lying in bed at night, Major Fenton grows anxious when he hears footsteps crunch the gravel outside, fearing another death.

The New York Times

With her forceful stop-and-start movements, Redgrave tells us who her character is: she's a woman of action, not someone who's apt to talk about her feelings as she grows anxious and defensive in her increasingly difficult efforts at self-sufficiency.

The New Yorker

As Bart adopts more and more gangster-like traits, Marge grows anxious and tells Homer to go and meet the Mafia, but Homer approves of them after they let him win at poker.

Wikipedia

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star Kim Richards opens up to Dr. Phil about the events leading up to her April 16 arrest at the famed Beverly Hills Hotel, but Richards grows anxious during the interview and walks out, as seen in the video above.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Thain was growing anxious.

The New Yorker

His relatives grew anxious.

The New York Times

After "Luck" was cancelled, Stevens grew anxious.

The New Yorker

When others received offers, I grew anxious.

The Economist

I was growing anxious to go home.

The New York Times

Anna grew anxious during the debate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grows anxious" when describing a gradual increase in anxiety over time. It is effective in narrative contexts to show a character's developing unease.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "grows anxious" can sound less formal than alternatives like "becomes apprehensive" or "develops concerns" in professional or academic writing. Choose the phrasing that best matches your desired tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grows anxious" functions as a verb phrase, specifically acting as a predicate describing a state of becoming increasingly worried or uneasy. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grows anxious" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe a gradual increase in worry or unease. According to Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While suitable for general use, consider more formal alternatives like "becomes apprehensive" in academic or professional writing. Remember that this phrase is best used to illustrate a developing state of anxiety over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becomes worried

Replaces "anxious" with "worried", maintaining a similar emotional state but with a slightly different nuance.

is getting worried

Uses continuous form to emphasize ongoing worrying process.

starts to worry

Emphasizes the beginning of the worrying process, similar to "grows anxious".

becomes apprehensive

"Apprehensive" suggests a formal and slightly stronger sense of unease compared to "anxious".

begins to feel uneasy

Focuses on the physical sensation of unease, altering the expression's emphasis.

turns uneasy

Focuses on the transformation to an uneasy state.

develops anxiety

Implies a more prolonged or clinical condition of anxiety.

gets concerned

Conveys a sense of care and worry, altering emotional emphasis.

becomes stressed

Shifts the emotional focus to stress, related but distinct from anxiety.

is becoming fearful

Moves the focus to a growing sense of fear rather than anxiety.

FAQs

What does "grows anxious" mean?

The phrase "grows anxious" means that someone is gradually becoming more worried, uneasy, or apprehensive over a period of time. It describes a developing state of anxiety.

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

You can use "grows anxious" to describe a character's developing worry in a story, or someone's increasing unease about a situation. For example: "As the deadline approached, she "grows anxious" about completing the project on time."

What are some synonyms for "grows anxious"?

Some synonyms for "grows anxious" include "becomes worried", "starts to worry", and "becomes apprehensive". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "grows anxious" or "becomes anxious"?

Both "grows anxious" and "becomes anxious" are grammatically correct and widely understood. "Grows anxious" implies a more gradual development of anxiety, while "becomes anxious" can suggest a more sudden onset.