worry

present singular third person worries · participle present worrying · participle past worried · past worried

1. intransitiveTo be troubled; to give way to mental anxiety or doubt.

   So you go along for a long time / And nothing seems to worry your mind / But what it adds up to / It's the side effect / That finally gets to you

   1983, Ashford & Simpson, “Side Effect”, in High-Rise (album)

   Synonyms: fret, stress, fuss, concern, fret, preoccupy, vex, gnaw

2. transitiveDisturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress; to exercise.

   Your tone of voice worries me.

   1 more example

   That worries the government, which fears that environmental activism could become the foundation for more general political opposition.

   2013 August 10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

3. transitiveTo harass; to irritate or distress.

   The President was worried into military action by persistent advisors.

4. transitiveTo seize or shake by the throat, especially of a dog or wolf.

   Your dog’s been worrying sheep again.

   1 more example

   This is the Dog, that worried the Cat, that killed the Rat, that ate the Malt, that lay in the Houſe that Jack built.

   1784, The House that Jack Built, page 7

5. transitiveTo touch repeatedly; to fiddle with.

   Christian paced the caravan, worrying his beard.

   1957, Sydney J. Bounds, The Robot Brains, London: Digit Books, page 58

   2 more examples

   So what if I wanted to touch my nose to the windshield? Who was it hurting? Why was it that he could repeatedly worry his change and bite his lower lip without the threat of punishment?

   1997, David Sedaris, “A Plague of Tics”, in Naked, page 15

   No stories, no arguments. He just worries his prayer beads.

   2002, Masha Hamilton, Staircase of a Thousand Steps, page 272

6. ScotlandobsoletetransitiveTo strangle.

   We read (Law's Memor. Pref. lix.) that "one John Brugh, a notorious warlock (wizard) in the parochin of Fossoquhy, by the space of thirty-six years, was worried at a stake and burned, 1643."

   1891, “Journal of Jurisprudence and Scottish Law Magazine”, in Execution of the Judgment of Death, page 397

plural worries

1. countableuncountableA strong feeling of anxiety.

   I'm afflicted by worry throughout the night.

   1 more example

   "Worry never solved any problems. Only gives you ulcers."

   1957, Sydney J. Bounds, The Robot Brains, London: Digit Books, page 35

   Synonyms: care

2. countableuncountableAn instance or cause of such a feeling.

   My main worry is that I'll miss the train.

   Synonyms: care

3. countableuncountableA person who causes worry.

   They could never make him speak a word, although he was old enough, in short, he was a perfect worry night and day.

   1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 305