NERVOUSLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nervously mean? 

• NERVOUSLY (adverb)
  The adverb NERVOUSLY has 2 senses:

1. in an anxiously nervous manner

2. with nervous excitement

  Familiarity information: NERVOUSLY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NERVOUSLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In an anxiously nervous manner

Context example:

we watched the stock market nervously

Pertainym:

nervous (easily agitated)

Sense 2

Meaning:

With nervous excitement

Context example:

our bodies jumped nervously away at the slightest touch

Pertainym:

nervous (unpredictably excitable (especially of horses))

 Context examples 

Early that morning he was out himself to the front door, nervously racing through the many-sheeted newspaper.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“I am sorry to say, Mr. Copperfield, I can't advance your object,” said Mr. Jorkins, nervously.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I was through it, when a sudden fantastic impulse came upon me, and I went back to my successful rival, who looked nervously at the electric push.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I’m not much of a story-teller,” said our visitor, nervously clasping and unclasping his great, strong hands.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A flush stole over Miss Sutherland’s face, and she picked nervously at the fringe of her jacket.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

John had praised her, and was undoing the old pocketbook which they called the 'bank', when Meg, knowing that it was quite empty, stopped his hand, saying nervously...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

His hand was sweeping nervously across his face, as though he were brushing away cobwebs.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The man was sitting up, blanched and ghastly, with returning reason in his eyes, and hands which rubbed nervously at the broad red band which still encircled his throat.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Between them stood a lean, white-faced brother who appeared to be ill at ease, shifting his feet from side to side and tapping his chin nervously with the long parchment roll which he held in his hand.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Till this year, every long vacation since their marriage had been divided between Hartfield and Donwell Abbey; but all the holidays of this autumn had been given to sea-bathing for the children, and it was therefore many months since they had been seen in a regular way by their Surry connexions, or seen at all by Mr. Woodhouse, who could not be induced to get so far as London, even for poor Isabella's sake; and who consequently was now most nervously and apprehensively happy in forestalling this too short visit.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)