Worrying
/ˈwɜːriɪŋ/
adjectiveverbB1present participle
Definition
Worrying describes something that makes you feel nervous, scared, or uneasy because you think something bad might happen. As a verb form, it means to feel or show this concern or fear about a problem or future event.
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See It in Action
Causing anxiety or concern (adjective)
- •The news about the storm is worrying many people.
- •His worrying behavior made his family call a doctor.
- •It is worrying that she has not called back yet.
Feeling anxious or concerned (verb, present participle)
- •She is worrying about the exam tomorrow.
- •They were worrying if the project would finish on time.
- •I keep worrying about my health these days.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "worrying" like "worried," but it is the action or ongoing feeling of concern, not just the state.
- ✓Picture a person biting their nails or looking at a clock again and again because they are anxious about something coming soon.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you think about an important test or a problem with a friend, and you can't stop thinking about it.
- ✓Sounds like "hurry-ing" but with a "w" → imagine rushing in your mind because your thoughts are moving fast and you feel uneasy.
- ✓Think of the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" — the boy was worrying about wolves, but sometimes worrying can help you be careful.
- ✓NOT like "calm" (peaceful and relaxed), "worrying" is about feeling nervous or uneasy.
- ✓NOT like "relaxing" (making you feel calm), "worrying" makes your mind busy with problems.
- ✓NOT like "fear" (strong feeling of danger), "worrying" is often a milder, more continuous feeling of concern.
Try Other Words
- •Concerning: causing concern or attention (Use when you want a more formal or neutral word for something that causes worry)
- •Troubling: causing trouble or distress (Use when the situation is more serious or emotionally difficult)
- •Disturbing: causing upset or shock (Use when something causes strong negative feelings)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: none, Root: "worry" (to feel uneasy or concerned), Suffix: "-ing" (shows ongoing action or describes something)
- •Etymology: From Old English "wyrgan" meaning to strangle or choke, later changed to mean mental distress or anxiety
- •Historical development: "Worry" originally meant physical strangling but evolved to mean mental stress or concern by the 14th century
- •Modern usage: Used as a verb for the action of feeling concern and as an adjective to describe things that cause concern or anxiety
Reflect & Connect
•When does worrying help us, and when does it make problems worse?
•How do you usually stop yourself from worrying too much about things you cannot control?
Fill in the blanks
1.The news about the missing child is very worrying because it ___ many people feel unsafe.
2.She is worrying about the exam results, so she ___ sleep well at night.
3.Unlike feeling calm, worrying makes your mind ___ about what might go wrong.
4.When something is worrying, people often say it is ___ to their peace of mind.
5.He kept worrying ___ the deadline, which made him work late every night.
6.Worrying can sometimes ___ people to prepare better for difficult situations.
7.If you find yourself worrying too much, it might help to ___ your thoughts or talk to someone.