Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

anxi|ety ◆◇◇ /æŋza I I ti/ (anxieties ) N‑VAR Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness or worry. □  Her voice was full of anxiety. □ [+ about ] Many editorials express their anxieties about the economic chaos in the country. SYNONYMS anxiety NOUN

unease:Garland tried to appear casual, but he couldn't conquer his unease.

worry:His wife Cheryl said she had no worries about his health.

tension:Smiling and laughing has actually been shown to relieve tension and stress.

apprehension:It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.

nervousness:I smiled warmly so he wouldn't see my nervousness.

anx|ious ◆◇◇ /æ ŋkʃəs/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf, ADJ that] If you are anxious to do something or anxious that something should happen, you very much want to do it or very much want it to happen. □  The miners were anxious to avoid a strike. □  He is anxious that there should be no delay. □  Those anxious for reform say that the present system is too narrow.

2 ADJ If you are anxious , you are nervous or worried about something. □  The foreign minister admitted he was still anxious about the situation in the country. □  A friend of mine is a very anxious person. ●  anx|ious|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  They are waiting anxiously to see who will succeed him.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] An anxious time or situation is one during which you feel nervous and worried. □  He told last night of the anxious hours waiting to discover whether his girlfriend was safe from the earthquake. SYNONYMS anxious ADJ

1

eager:Robert was eager to talk about life in the Army.

keen:She's still keen to keep in touch.

impatient:He was impatient to get home.

2

uneasy:I had an uneasy feeling that he was going to spoil it.

concerned:I've been concerned about you lately.

worried:He seemed very worried.

nervous:She described Mr Hutchinson as nervous and jumpy after his wife's disappearance.

tense:There was a tense silence.

any ◆◆◆ /e ni/

1 DET You use any in statements with negative meaning to indicate that no thing or person of a particular type exists, is present, or is involved in a situation. □  I never make any big decisions. □  We are doing this all without any support from the hospital. □  Earlier reports were unable to confirm that there were any survivors. ● QUANT Any is also a quantifier. □  You don't know any of my friends. ● PRON Any is also a pronoun. □  The children needed new school clothes and Kim couldn't afford any.

2 DET You use any in questions and conditional clauses to ask whether there is some of a particular thing or some of a particular group of people, or to suggest that there might be. □  Do you speak any foreign languages? □  Have you got any cheese I can have with this bread? ● QUANT Any is also a quantifier. □  Have you ever used a homeopathic remedy for any of the following reasons? ● PRON Any is also a pronoun. □  The plants are inspected for insects and if I find any, they are squashed.