worried; worrying
1
: to afflict with mental distress or agitation : make anxious
2
a
: to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat
b
: to shake or pull at with the teeth
a terrier worrying a rat
c
: to touch or disturb something repeatedly
d
: to change the position of or adjust by repeated pushing or hauling
3
a
: to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment : torment
b
: to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort
1
: to feel or experience concern or anxiety : fret
worrying about his health
2
: to move, proceed, or progress by unceasing or difficult effort : struggle
plural worries
1
a
: mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated : anxiety
b
: an instance or occurrence of such distress or agitation
2
: a cause of worry : trouble, difficulty
Synonyms
Examples of worry in a Sentence
Verb
We didn't want you to worry.
Don't worry. You'll be fine.
Don't make your parents worry.
When they didn't call after two hours, we began to worry.
They were fine. We needn't have worried.
His poor health worries me.
It doesn't seem to worry him that rain is in the forecast.
We didn't tell you about the accident because we didn't want to worry you.
Noun
She finally ended months of worry over her credit card debt when she finished paying off her bill.
His high blood pressure is cause for worry.
Our greatest worry is that she'll get lost.
His only worry right now is getting to the airport on time.
His mother's health is a constant worry.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Many also worry that U.S. disengagement could lead other countries to backpedal on existing climate pledges or scale back future ambitions.
—Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Luciana Paulise, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Professor Ned Foley, the director of the election-law program at Ohio State University, told me that his biggest worry this year was a new deadline of December 16th.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for worry 
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Verb
Travelers who are used to sailing the warm Caribbean waters might feel hesitant to sail in the region’s colder aid, worried about seasickness or simply unsure about the destinations themselves.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Many also worry that U.S. disengagement could lead other countries to backpedal on existing climate pledges or scale back future ambitions.
—Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
Election seasons often evoke a mix of emotions, ranging from hope for the future to intense worry over what may come.
—Luciana Paulise, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Professor Ned Foley, the director of the election-law program at Ohio State University, told me that his biggest worry this year was a new deadline of December 16th.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for worry
Dictionary Entries Near worry
Cite this Entry
“Worry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worry. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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