From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishanxiousanx‧ious /ˈæŋkʃəs/ ●●○ S3 W3 adjective 1 WORRIEDworried about somethinganxious about He was a bit anxious about the safety of the machinery.anxious for We were anxious for you.anxious (that) She was anxious that it might be cancer.an anxious look/expression She gave me an anxious look.► see thesaurus at worriedGRAMMAR: Prepositions with anxious• You are anxious about something: She is anxious about the interview. ✗Don’t say: She is anxious for the interview.• You are anxious for another person (=worried that something bad might have happened to them): They are anxious for their son.2 WORRIEDan anxious time or situation is one in which you feel nervous or worried SYN worrying We had an anxious couple of weeks waiting for the test results. There was an anxious moment when the plane suddenly dropped.3 WORRIEDfeeling strongly that you want to do something or want something to happen SYN keenanxious to do something The company is anxious to improve its image. He seemed most anxious to speak to me alone. The president is anxious not to have another crisis.anxious for somebody to do something Why was she so anxious for me to stay?anxious for We were all anxious for news.anxious (that) Both sides were anxious that the agreement should be signed as quickly as possible. —anxiously adverb She waited anxiously by the phone.
Examples from the Corpus
anxious• She knew it was a simple operation, but she still felt anxious.• When you become anxious about sleeplessness, you actually make the problem worse.• Helen is always anxious about travelling alone.• Some one with early stages of brain failure can be very aware of it, and anxious about what is happening to him/her.• Gail was feeling anxious and depressed.• Some parents found social work visits made them fearful and anxious and their self-esteem was reduced.• But he's just a bit anxious because you have never flown before.• That flexibility itself is generally associated with more harmonious households and less anxious child-rearing.• In the anxious days that followed, Henry tried to keep his mind off his results.• anxious employees• an anxious glance• Mae cast an anxious look in his direction.• For one anxious moment, I thought the rope was going to break.• There were a few anxious moments for Morgan near the end of the match.• But Roy had thrown away his script, and he spent an anxious plane journey trying to remember his lines.• Anxious relatives waited at the airport for news of the plane crash.• After a long and anxious spell, she recovered.• And, indeed, she was more than anxious to do what she could to help look after the twins.• "Please come with me, " she said in an anxious voice.• After an anxious wait, Audrey was told her father had died.• Her long and anxious wait for breakfast had caused her so much stress, that she had developed colic and died.anxious (that)• He fidgeted with a basketball, anxious for the five-minute conversation to end.• When he got to the third computer, Mrs Boatwright and I exchanged an anxious little glance.• She grew up fearful of authority and anxious to comply with it.• And, indeed, she was more than anxious to do what she could to help look after the twins.• But today he was on edge, anxious to have a distasteful duty done, careful that there should be no mistakes.• They are particularly anxious to hear from a man they think may have witnessed one attack.• Clinton, as usual, was merely anxious to please.anxious (that)• He fidgeted with a basketball, anxious for the five-minute conversation to end.• When he got to the third computer, Mrs Boatwright and I exchanged an anxious little glance.• She grew up fearful of authority and anxious to comply with it.• And, indeed, she was more than anxious to do what she could to help look after the twins.• But today he was on edge, anxious to have a distasteful duty done, careful that there should be no mistakes.• They are particularly anxious to hear from a man they think may have witnessed one attack.• Clinton, as usual, was merely anxious to please.Origin anxious (1600-1700) Latin anxius 