worry
verb /ˈwʌri/
/ˈwɜːri/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they worry | /ˈwʌri/ /ˈwɜːri/ |
| he / she / it worries | /ˈwʌriz/ /ˈwɜːriz/ |
| past simple worried | /ˈwʌrid/ /ˈwɜːrid/ |
| past participle worried | /ˈwʌrid/ /ˈwɜːrid/ |
| -ing form worrying | /ˈwʌriɪŋ/ /ˈwɜːriɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to keep thinking about unpleasant things that might happen or about problems that you have
- Don't worry. We have plenty of time.
- Stop worrying, Dad—it'll be fine.
- worry about somebody/something Don't worry about me. I'll be all right.
- He's always worrying about his weight.
- Never mind—it's nothing to worry about.
- That's not something you need to worry about.
- worry about doing something You can stay here tonight, so you don't have to worry about walking home in the dark.
- worry over somebody/something There's no point in worrying over things you can't change.
- worry for somebody/something She's my sister, and I worry for her safety.
- She began to worry for her friend.
- worry (that)… I worry that I won't get into college.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsa2- Don't bother Harry—he has enough to worry about as it is.
- Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.
- Don't worry too much about it.
- I can't help worrying about the future.
- She worries a lot about crime.
- We can't help worrying for your safety.
- You do worry unnecessarily, you know.
- You worry too much.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a lot
- particularly
- really
- …
- not let something
- not need to
- begin to
- …
- about
- for
- with
- …
- can’t help worrying
- enough to worry about
- nothing to worry about
- …
- [transitive] to make somebody/yourself anxious about somebody/something
- worry somebody/yourself What worries me is how I am going to get another job.
- That prospect worried investors.
- worry somebody/yourself about somebody/something Don't worry yourself about it—I'll deal with it.
- worry somebody/yourself + adj. about somebody/something He's worried himself sick (= become extremely anxious) about his daughter.
- worry somebody/yourself + adj. Where have you been? I've been worrying myself silly (= been extremely anxious) all evening.
- it worries somebody that… It worries me that he hasn't come home yet.
- it worries somebody to do something It worried me to think what might happen.
Extra Examples- Don't let it worry you unduly.
- What really worries me is what we do if there's nobody there.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a lot
- particularly
- really
- …
- not let something
- not need to
- begin to
- …
- about
- for
- with
- …
- can’t help worrying
- enough to worry about
- nothing to worry about
- …
- [transitive] to annoy or upset somebody
- worry somebody The noise never seems to worry her.
- worry somebody with something Don't keep worrying him with a lot of silly questions.
- I didn't want to worry you with all the details.
- Don't worry the driver with unnecessary requests.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a lot
- particularly
- really
- …
- not let something
- not need to
- begin to
- …
- about
- for
- with
- …
- can’t help worrying
- enough to worry about
- nothing to worry about
- …
- [transitive] worry something (of a dog) to attack animals, especially sheep, by running after and/or biting them
Word OriginOld English wyrgan ‘strangle’, of West Germanic origin. In Middle English the original sense of the verb gave rise to the meaning ‘seize by the throat and tear’, later figuratively ‘harass’, which led to the sense ‘cause anxiety to’ (early 19th century, the date also of the noun).
Idioms
not to worry
- (informal, especially British English) it is not important; it does not matter
- Not to worry—I can soon fix it.
- Not to worry—no harm done.