/ æŋˈzaɪəti; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ U ] anxiety (about / over sth) the state of feeling nervous or worried that sth bad is going to happen :
acute / intense / deep anxiety
Some hospital patients experience high levels of anxiety.
2.
[ C ] a worry or fear about sth :
If you're worried about your health, share your anxieties with your doctor.
3.
[ U ] anxiety to do sth | anxiety for sth a strong feeling of wanting to do sth or of wanting sth to happen :
the candidate's anxiety to win the vote
the people's anxiety for the war to end
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from French anxiété or Latin anxietas , from anxius , from angere to choke.