anxious to
She was anxious to start her new job.
She was very eager to begin her new job.
Eager or keen to do something; showing strong desire or impatience to perform an action.
He was anxious to prove himself in the competition.
He was very eager to demonstrate his abilities in the competition.
The students were anxious to hear the exam results.
The students were impatiently waiting to know their exam results.
Often used to express enthusiasm or urgency, but can also imply nervousness or worry about the outcome.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Tone Awareness
Be mindful of the context when using 'anxious to'—it can imply both excitement and nervousness.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Use 'anxious to' for strong emotions; for milder enthusiasm, consider 'eager to' or 'keen to'.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'anxious' (from Latin 'anxius') + 'to' (preposition). The phrase combines the sense of worry or eagerness with the intention to act.
Usage Notes
While 'anxious to' often conveys positive eagerness, it can sometimes imply nervousness or concern about the outcome. Context usually clarifies the tone.