nerves

nerves — noun

1. the thin, thread-like parts of the body that carry electrical signals between th

1.nounB2
Definition

the thin, thread-like parts of the body that carry electrical signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body, allowing you to feel sensations, move your muscles, and control your organs

Example

The surgeon carefully repaired the damaged nerve in Diego's wrist after the motorcycle accident.

A pinched nerve in her lower back caused Nia sharp pain whenever she bent down.

common collocations: pinched nerve, damaged nerve

Common collocations
  • pinched nerve
  • damaged nerve
  • optic nerve
  • nerve cell
  • nerve damage
  • nerve ending
Synonyms
  • neuron

    a single nerve cell; more technical and specific than 'nerve', which refers to the whole fiber bundle

Usage Note

The anatomical sense is usually countable ("one nerve", "several nerves") and appears in medical or scientific contexts. The figurative senses below are uncountable or fixed phrases.

Common Mistakes

The blood flows through nerves.
Signals travel through nerves.
Nerves carry electrical signals, not blood.

2. a feeling of worry, fear, or unease that you experience before or during a stres

2.nounB1
Definition

a feeling of worry, fear, or unease that you experience before or during a stressful event, such as an exam, a performance, or an important meeting

Example

The night before her piano recital, Ava could not fall asleep because of nerves.

Rania took three deep breaths, and her nerves gradually began to settle.

collocation: calm / settle one's nerves

Common collocations
  • calm one's nerves
  • settle one's nerves
  • steady one's nerves
  • suffer from nerves
  • a case of nerves
  • battle of nerves
  • war of nerves
  • nerves are frayed
  • nerves got the better of someone
Synonyms
  • nervousness

    more formal; describes the feeling itself rather than the state of having it

  • anxiety

    broader and more clinical; can refer to long-term worry, not just pre-event jitters

  • butterflies

    informal; describes the fluttering feeling in the stomach rather than the general state

Antonyms
  • calm

    the opposite emotional state — peace and relaxation

Usage Note

Always plural in form when referring to anxiety ("my nerves were bad"), but takes a plural verb ("his nerves were frayed"). Used in fixed expressions: "suffer from nerves", "a case of nerves", "calm / steady one's nerves".

Common Mistakes

I have a nerve about the exam.
I have nerves about the exam.
The anxiety sense is always plural: 'nerves' not 'a nerve'.

3. the ability to keep a calm state of mind and not panic when facing danger, inten

3.nounB2
Definition

the ability to keep a calm state of mind and not panic when facing danger, intense pressure, or a difficult situation — shown especially in the fixed phrase "nerves of steel"

Example

The firefighter kept her nerves steady as she carried the child down the burning ladder.

Omar has nerves of steel; he stayed completely calm when the plane hit turbulence.

fixed phrase: nerves of steel

Common collocations
  • nerves of steel
  • strong nerves
  • steady nerves
  • iron nerves
Synonyms
  • composure

    focuses on the calm state rather than the ability to maintain it under challenge

  • fortitude

    more literary; suggests courage in the face of pain or adversity rather than just emotional steadiness

Antonyms
  • panic

    a sudden loss of control opposite to steady nerves

Usage Note

This sense refers to stamina and emotional resilience rather than fear. The phrase "nerves of steel" is the most common expression. Unlike sense 2 (anxiety), this sense describes a positive quality — the ability to stay composed under pressure.

Common Mistakes

She has iron nerves.
She has nerves of steel.
'Nerves of steel' is the fixed idiomatic phrase; 'iron nerves' is non-standard.

4. rude or shocking confidence; the willingness to say or do something that most pe

4.nounB2
Definition

rude or shocking confidence; the willingness to say or do something that most people would find annoying, disrespectful, or unreasonable

Example

Kwame had the nerve to say his boss's new policy was a waste of time.

pattern: have the nerve + to-infinitive (criticising)

Mira had the nerve to show up at the party after insulting the host.

Common collocations
  • have the nerve to
  • a lot of nerve
  • what a nerve
Synonyms
  • audacity

    more formal; can be positive or negative depending on context

  • cheek

    British English; slightly milder disapproval

  • gall

    strong disapproval; implies the person should feel ashamed

Antonyms
  • timidity

    lack of confidence or courage — the opposite of boldness

Grammar Patterns

have the nerve + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Almost always used in the construction "have the nerve (to do something)" or "have a lot of nerve". Strongly negative or disapproving — the speaker is expressing annoyance at the person's boldness. Not used in positive contexts ("good nerve" is wrong for this sense).

Common Mistakes

She had nerve to ask for a raise.
She had the nerve to ask for a raise.
The definite article 'the' is required. Also: ❌ 'He has good nerve.' ✅ 'He has a lot of nerve.' — This sense describes audacity, not a quality you can evaluate as 'good'.

5. a subject or topic that causes a strong emotional reaction, such as anger, embar

5.nounB2
Definition

a subject or topic that causes a strong emotional reaction, such as anger, embarrassment, pain, or defensiveness, especially when it reminds someone of something unpleasant

Example

The comedian's joke about local politics clearly struck a nerve with the audience.

fixed phrase: strike a nerve

When David mentioned the layoffs, he hit a nerve with colleagues who were still worried.

fixed phrase: hit a nerve

Common collocations
  • hit a nerve
  • strike a nerve
  • touch a nerve
  • touch a raw nerve
Synonyms
  • sore point

    a topic someone finds embarrassing or painful to discuss

  • sensitive topic

    neutral description; a subject that requires careful handling

Antonyms
  • safe topic

    a subject that does not cause any emotional reaction

Grammar Patterns

hit / strike / touch a nerve

Usage Note

Most commonly appears in the verb phrases "hit a nerve", "strike a nerve", or "touch a nerve". The variation "touch a raw nerve" implies the person is already sensitive about the topic. The subject of the verb is typically a comment, joke, question, or article — something someone says or writes.

Common Mistakes

My comment hurt her nerve.
My comment touched a nerve with her.
The phrase is 'hit/strike/touch a nerve', not 'hurt someone's nerve'.
Idioms

suffer from nerves / a bad case of nerves / pre-event nerves

idiom

a state of worry or anxiety about something that is going to happen, such as an exam, a performance, an interview, or a competition

The young actor suffered from terrible nerves before every single performance, no matter how small the role was.

It is completely normal to have a bad case of nerves before your first job interview.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

"Nervousness" is the mildest and most situational of these words — it describes the temporary, uneasy feeling you get before a specific event, like a test or a date. "Anxiety" is broader and more clinical; it can refer to a long-term mental-health condition or a general feeling of worry that is not tied to one event. "Tension" combines mental strain with physical tightness — tense muscles, a stiff neck, shallow breathing. "Jitters" is informal and suggests a short, shaky feeling, often physical (trembling hands, a fluttery stomach), especially before a performance. "Nerves" (the target sense) is the most everyday, conversational choice — you say "I had nerves before the exam," not "I experienced nervousness before the exam." Use "nerves" in casual speech and "anxiety" in more formal or clinical writing.

nervousness ↗anxiety ↗tension ↗jitters ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

"Nerves" comes from the Latin word "nervus," which originally meant "sinew" or "tendon" — the tough, string-like cords that connect muscle to bone. Ancient anatomists did not clearly distinguish between the body's fibrous tissues, so the same word covered both tendons and the softer strands we now call nerves. The word passed into Old French as "nerf" and then into Middle English as "nerve" around the 1400s. By the 1600s, English scientists began using "nerve" specifically for the body's signal-carrying fibers. From that physical meaning, figurative senses grew: "nerves" as anxiety (the feeling you get before something stressful) appeared in the 1700s, and the idea of having "nerve" meaning boldness or audacity emerged in the 1800s.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1