to worry
Third Person
worries
Present Participle
worrying
Past Tense
worried
Past Participle
worried
1
to feel upset and nervous because we think about bad things that might happen to us or our problems
- She tends to worry about upcoming exams.
- Don't worry, I'll take care of everything while you're away.
- He couldn't help but worry about the uncertain future.
- Try not to worry too much; things will get better.
- The constant rain made her worry about the outdoor wedding ceremony.
2
to bother or irritate someone repeatedly
transitive
- The dripping faucet worried him as he tried to focus on his work.
- The child's whining started to worry the tired teacher.
- The persistent knocking at the door worried everyone inside.
- The cat worried the sleeping dog by pawing at its tail.
- The broken fan worried them with its loud, uneven noise.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
3
to chew, pull, or shake something with the teeth, often aggressively or persistently
transitive
- The dog worried the old shoe until it was in shreds.
- She watched as the puppy worried the toy, growling playfully.
- The stray dog worried the bone, dragging it across the yard.
- He noticed the dog worrying a stick, leaving deep teeth marks.
- The wolf worried the carcass, tearing off pieces to eat.
4
to handle or move something over and over, often in a way that shows anxiety or distraction
transitive
- He worried the pen in his hand while waiting for the results.
- She nervously worried the edge of her napkin during the meeting.
- The child worried the toy, twisting it back and forth.
- He worried the zipper on his jacket, lost in thought.
- He couldn’t stop worrying the paperclip between his fingers.
5
to cause someone to feel nervous, uneasy, or troubled in their mind
transitive
- She was worried by the thought of losing her job.
- The delay in the flight worried him, as he had important plans.
- The news of the accident worried her, making it hard to concentrate.
- His constant health concerns began to worry his family.
- The situation at work began to worry her, affecting her sleep.