What does nerving mean?
Nerving means giving someone confidence, reassurance, or encouragement. It is especially used for words, gestures, performances, or experiences that steady a person and restore their courage before a difficult or demanding occasion. The word has a positive, approving connotation: to call something nerving is to say that it helps people overcome fear or uncertainty. It can also be used as the present participle of the verb nerve, meaning to give someone the courage to face a situation. Although the word appears in both British and American English, it sounds somewhat more literary or formal than everyday alternatives such as reassuring or encouraging. The closely related word unnerving describes something that causes anxiety rather than confidence, so the distinction is important in contexts involving public performances, competitions, examinations, and other situations where people may need reassurance.
Giving someone confidence, reassurance, or encouragement.
"The captain's words were nerving as the team prepared to go out."
Usually positive and often used in a formal or literary register.
Giving someone the courage or confidence to face a situation.
"She was nerving herself to speak in public."
The verb form means to give someone courage or confidence, not to cause nervousness.
Sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is give another person their nerve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nerving come from?
The word nerving was formed in the early 19th century from the verb nerve, which means to give someone courage or confidence. Nerve itself comes through Old English from Latin nervus, meaning sinew or tendon, a development connected with the idea of strength. The modern sense of nerve as encouragement or boldness developed through the intervening idea of strength and vitality. Several English and scientific words, including nervous, neural, neurology, and neuron, belong to this wider family of words associated with nerves, strength, and the Latin and Greek terms for sinew or nerve.
Related word forms
How nerving is actually used
The adjective is generally formal or literary and is often used to describe words, speeches, music, or actions that inspire confidence. In British and American English, the adjective is commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Easily confused with nerving
A nerving experience is reassuring or encouraging, whereas an unnerving experience causes anxiety or apprehension.