What does worrying mean?
Worrying is an English word that most commonly functions as an adjective meaning likely to cause anxiety, fear, or concern. It is often used to describe news, symptoms, developments, or trends: a report may contain worrying findings, or a situation may be described as deeply worrying. The word can also be the present participle of the verb worry, as in “I was worrying about the outcome,” in which case it describes the activity of experiencing anxiety or fretting. Less commonly, worrying is used as a noun for the condition or practice of being worried, although it is normally uncountable. In everyday speech, the word has a serious but not alarmist tone. Its meaning should be distinguished from that of worried: a person is worried, while a situation, result, or piece of news is worrying. The word is especially useful because it can turn concern into a compact description of something that causes unease.
Causing anxiety, fear, or concern.
"Officials described the increase in infections as worrying."
Common before nouns such as development, sign, trend, and prospect, and also used predicatively.
The present participle of worry, used to describe the act of being anxious or fretting about something.
"She had been worrying about the interview for several days."
This is an inflected form of the verb worry rather than a separate lexical verb.
The activity or state of being worried or anxious.
"Constant worrying affected his sleep and his work."
Normally uncountable and less common than the adjective and participial uses.
Rare and usually unnecessary; the nominal use of worrying is normally uncountable.
"His repeated worryings over minor setbacks became tiresome."
A worrying distinction: worrying causes anxiety, while worried is the feeling itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does worrying come from?
Worrying is an English word formed by adding the present-participle and gerund suffix -ing to worry. Worry itself is recorded from the medieval period and developed through earlier senses involving mental torment, vexation, and anxiety. Related forms occur in German verwirren and Dutch verwarring, particularly in senses connected with disturbance or confusion. Modern worrying developed the established participial and adjectival uses reflected in current English.
Related word forms
How worrying is actually used
The adjective is neutral in everyday English, although the less common adjective worrisome can sound more formal. As a verb form, worrying is especially common in progressive constructions such as “keep worrying” and “stop worrying.” The noun use is normally uncountable and conveys prolonged anxiety or fretting.
Easily confused with worrying
Worrying describes something that causes anxiety, whereas worried describes a person who is feeling anxious.