she became anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she became anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a change in someone's emotional state, typically in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "As the deadline approached, she became anxious about completing her project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

When this symptom appeared she became anxious.

The New Yorker

She became anxious and unhappy.

The Guardian - Opinion

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

Independent

If she didn't, she became anxious... and when she was anxious she would attack.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The 15-year-old claimant, a GCSE pupil who was wearing her school uniform, describes how she became anxious while "kettled" and decided to go home.

The Guardian

She became anxious when out, even though she had been pegged in a New York magazine list in 2010 as the most photographed person in New York's party universe.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

When Fa Mulan hears that her elderly father Fa Zhou, the only man in their family, is once more to go to war, she becomes anxious and apprehensive.

Wikipedia

Because of my friend's own issues, she becomes anxious that I don't like her anymore if I express my need for a bit more space.

Huffington Post

Keep doing these sessions, each time watching your cat carefully, and increasing the distance if she becomes anxious.

WikiHow

She also became anxious about her aging skin.

Vice

Her daughter, she said, was introverted and when she saw classmates being able to handle chopsticks, she felt peer pressure and became anxious.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she became anxious" to clearly indicate the onset of anxiety, particularly in narrative contexts where describing a character's emotional change is important. It suggests a transition into a state of worry or unease.

Common error

Avoid using "became" repeatedly in a single paragraph. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "grew", "turned", or "felt" to prevent monotony and improve the flow of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she became anxious" functions as a stative verb phrase, describing a change in emotional state. It signifies a transition into a state of worry or unease. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she became anxious" is a grammatically sound and widely applicable way to describe the onset of anxiety in a narrative or descriptive context. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. While it appears most frequently in News & Media, it is also found in scientific and general-interest sources. When using this phrase, it's important to be mindful of overusing "became" and to vary your language for stylistic reasons. Consider alternatives such as "she grew worried" or "she started feeling anxious" to add nuance and avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she grew worried

Replaces "anxious" with "worried", a direct synonym, maintaining a similar level of intensity.

she started feeling anxious

Emphasizes the onset of anxiety, focusing on the beginning of the feeling.

she was filled with anxiety

Highlights the overwhelming nature of the anxiety.

she found herself anxious

Emphasizes a passive experience of anxiety, suggesting it arose without direct intention.

she was apprehensive

Replaces "anxious" with "apprehensive", indicating a sense of unease about a future event.

anxiety overcame her

Presents anxiety as a force acting upon her, highlighting its power.

she became uneasy

Uses "uneasy" to describe a milder form of anxiety or discomfort.

she grew concerned

Focuses on concern, which can be a precursor to anxiety, emphasizing worry about a specific issue.

she was agitated

Shifts the focus to outward behavior resulting from anxiety, indicating restlessness and irritation.

she felt a sense of dread

Highlights the feeling of impending doom associated with severe anxiety.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "she became anxious"?

You can use phrases like "she grew worried", "she "started feeling anxious"", or "she was "filled with anxiety"" to express similar meanings.

Is it grammatically correct to say "she became anxious"?

Yes, "she became anxious" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-adjective structure, indicating a change in her emotional state.

How does "she became anxious" differ from "she was anxious"?

"She became anxious" implies a transition into a state of anxiety, while "she was anxious" describes a pre-existing state. The former suggests a change, while the latter describes a condition.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "she became anxious"?

It's appropriate in narrative or descriptive contexts where you want to illustrate a character's emotional shift. For example, "As the deadline approached, "she became anxious" about completing her project on time."