To be troubled; to give way to mental anxiety or doubt.
"The sudden silence from her phone had me worrying all morning, unable to shake the fear that something terrible might have happened."
In plain English: To worry is to feel really upset and anxious about something bad that might happen.
"She started to worry when her phone stopped ringing."
Usage: Use worry as an intransitive verb when describing someone feeling anxious, such as "don't worry about the test." It is often confused with concern, but while you can feel worried without a specific cause, concern usually implies a reaction to something particular that needs attention.
Example Sentences
"The constant worry about losing his job kept him awake at night."noun
"She started to worry when her phone stopped ringing."verb
"I worry about my exam results every night before bed."verb
"She worries that she might miss her flight tomorrow morning."verb
"Don't worry so much; everything will work out fine."verb
The word "worry" comes from Old English wyrġan, which originally meant "to choke or strangle." Its meaning shifted over time in Middle English before entering modern usage as a verb for feeling anxious.