worry over

USAGE SUMMARY

"worry over" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express worrying about something. Example sentence: He spent the morning worrying over his exams.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now they ask why worry over something that's all but inevitable.

Vice

Investor worry over their defenses is justified.

The New York Times

But that wasn't anything to worry over.

The New Yorker

One is the worry over security and data protection.

The Economist

Their worry over Iran is as acute as Israel's.

The Economist

Then there was worry over his physical well-being.

The New York Times - Sports

There was a lot of worry over the weekend.

The New York Times

Administration officials have publicly expressed worry over rapidly rising costs.

The New York Times

There is grassland to manage and weather to worry over.

The New York Times

This relates to the worry over "misuse". What would it mean to "misuse" a digital collection?

Princeton University

Republicans and Democrats alike worry over bills that come late on a given day's agenda.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or scientific contexts, prefer using it as a noun (e.g., 'the amount of worry over genetic heritability') to maintain a more objective tone.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary reflexive pronouns like 'he worried himself over the results'. Simply saying 'he worried over the results' is cleaner and follows the standard usage seen in reputable sources like The New Yorker.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worry over" functions as either a phrasal verb or a noun followed by a preposition. According to Ludwig AI, it is highly acceptable in written English. As a verb, it describes the mental action of dwelling on a difficulty. As a noun, it identifies the state of anxiety itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "worry over" is a robust and grammatically correct phrase that serves as a staple in English across all levels of formality. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use, particularly in quality journalism and scientific research. Whether used to describe geopolitical tensions in The Economist or patient anxieties in medical journals, the phrase effectively bridges an emotional state with its external cause. It is a more evocative alternative to the ubiquitous "worry about", often hinting at a more deliberate or brooding focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fret about

Suggests a more nervous or repetitive type of worrying, often about smaller details.

anxiety about

Uses a noun-heavy structure to describe a clinical or persistent state of unease.

agonize over

Implies a much greater degree of mental pain or a difficult decision-making process.

apprehension over

Focuses on the fear of a future event rather than current distress.

brood over

Connotes a moody or silent persistence in thinking about something unhappy.

dwell on

Focuses on the act of spending too much time thinking about a negative subject.

concern regarding

A more formal and objective way to express a similar sentiment, common in business.

stew over

Informal; suggests being upset or worried in a quiet, simmering way.

obsess over

Indicates an unhealthy or excessive level of focus that goes beyond simple worry.

trouble oneself with

Often used in the negative to suggest that something is not worth the effort of worrying.

FAQs

How do I use "worry over" in a sentence?

You can use it as a verb or a noun. For example, 'Scientists "worry over" the rising sea levels' or 'There is significant "worry over" the new policy'.

What is the difference between "worry over" and "worry about"?

While often interchangeable, "worry over" frequently suggests a more detailed or brooding preoccupation with a specific problem, whereas "worry about" is the more general and common prepositional choice.

Is "worry over" formal or informal?

It is neutral and widely accepted in both formal writing, such as the "British Journal of Cancer", and informal conversation.

Can I say "fret over" instead?

Yes, "fret over" is a close synonym, though it often carries a connotation of being worried about relatively minor or trivial matters compared to "worry over".