Worry Worrying I Fine Worried Verb ˈwʌri ˈwɜːri

• don't worry. we have plenty of time.
• stop worrying, dad—it'll be fine.
• don't worry about me. i'll be all right.
• he's always worrying about his weight.

worry

Verb Forms

1. 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.
• 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.
• You can stay here tonight, so you don't have to worry about walking home in the dark.
• There's no point in worrying over things you can't change.
• She's my sister, and I worry for her safety.
• She began to worry for her friend.
• I worry that I won't get into college.

Extra Examples

• 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.
2. to make somebody/yourself anxious about somebody/something
• What worries me is how I am going to get another job.
• That prospect worried investors.
• Don't worry yourself about it—I'll deal with it.
• He's worried himself sick (= become extremely anxious) about his daughter.
• Where have you been? I've been worrying myself silly (= been extremely anxious) all evening.
• It worries me that he hasn't come home yet.
• 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.
3. to annoy or upset somebody
• SYNONYM disturb
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/disturb
• The noise never seems to worry her.
• 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.
4. to attack animals, especially sheep, by running after and/or biting them
5. it is not important; it does not matter
• Not to worry—I can soon fix it.
• Not to worry—no harm done.

Word Origin

• Old 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).