worry

To worry means to feel anxious, troubled, or uneasy about actual or possible problems. It is more than simply noticing that something could go wrong; it is the mental habit of thinking about danger, trouble, or loss. For example, in the sentence "She worried constantly about her children," the meaning is that she kept feeling concern for their safety and well-being.

Worry can be about a specific thing, such as health, money, work, or relationships, or it can be more general. You might say, "He worries too much," meaning that he often thinks about bad possibilities. It is useful to separate worry from fear: fear is usually a response to danger that is present right now, while worry is more often about what might happen later.

The word is also very common as a noun. A worry is a cause of concern or a troubled thought. If someone says, "Money has been a constant worry," they mean that money has been an ongoing source of stress. In this way, the word can describe both the feeling itself and the thing that causes it.

We also use "worry" in everyday expressions. "Don't worry" means "do not feel anxious about it." "What are you worried about?" asks what is causing the concern. A person can also worry someone else, meaning they make that person feel concern: "You had us all worried."

Whether it is a passing thought or a lasting state of mind, worry is a common part of human experience. It can be useful when it draws attention to a real problem, but if it becomes too strong or too constant, it can wear a person down.