WUR-eed
/ˈwɝid/
worried is pronounced WUR-eed (/ˈwɝid/). Worried describes feeling or showing anxiety or concern about a potential problem or uncertain situation. It conveys a persistent, inward focus on negative possibilities, often accompanied by tense facial expression or restlessness. The term can function as an adjective or describe a state of mind that affects behavior or speech in stressful moments.
Worried describes feeling or showing anxiety or concern about a potential problem or uncertain situation. It conveys a persistent, inward focus on negative possibilities, often accompanied by tense facial expression or restlessness. The term can function as an adjective or describe a state of mind that affects behavior or speech in stressful moments.
"She looked worried as she waited for the test results."
"I'm worried about the meeting tomorrow; we need a solid plan."
"The parents were worried after hearing the weather warnings."
Pronounce as WORR-yeed in US/UK spelling; IPA: US /ˈwɜːr.ɪd/ or /ˈwɜːrd/ in rapid speech, UK /ˈwɜː.rɪd/, AU /ˈwɔː.rɪd/ for many speakers. Stress on the first syllable. Start with a mid-back lax vowel /ɜː/ (like ‘fur’ without the r-color) for many speakers, then an /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a final /d/. In connected speech, the /r/ can be less pronounced in non-rhotic accents, yielding /ˈwɜːɪd/ or /ˈwɜːd/. Keep the lips relaxed, jaw slightly open, and avoid over-enunciating the vowel after /ɜː/.
Common errors: 1) Skipping the /ɜː/ vowel or turning it into a schwa, sounding like /ˈwə.rɪd/. 2) Over-drolling the /r/ in rhotic accents, making it sound caricatured. 3) Dropping the final /d/ or tensing the tongue so it becomes a /t/ or a d-less ending. Correction: maintain a clear /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ vowel, release the final /d/ smoothly, and keep the tongue tip on the alveolar ridge just behind the upper teeth as you voice the /d/.
In US accents, /ˈwɜːr.ɪd/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /ɜː/ vowel; some speakers merge to /ˈwɜːrd/ in rapid speech. UK non-rhotic often yields /ˈwɜː(r)ɪd/ with weaker or hidden /r/; AU may use /ˈwɔː.rɪd/ or /ˈwɜː.ɪd/ depending on speaker. In all, the key differences are rhotic presence and vowel quality; US more rhotic with a longer /ɜː/; UK tends toward shorter, slightly centralized /ɜː/ and reduced /r/.
The difficulty lies in the mid-central /ɜː/ vowel and the rapid sequence /ɜːr/ followed by /ɪ/ in connected speech. For speakers of languages without a centralized vowel or without postvocalic /r/, producing /ɜːr/ can be challenging. The final /d/ requires precise tongue-tip contact. Focus on sustaining the /ɜː/ with a relaxed jaw and then quickly transition to the brief /ɪ/ before releasing /d/.
A common unique angle is its vowel sequence in rapid speech, as many learners wonder why /ɜːr/ doesn’t reduce to a simple /ɜr/ or /ɜd/ in casual speech. The word also highlights the contrast between US rhotic and non-rhotic pronunciations, and how the /r/ interacts with the following /ɪ/. Being aware of the brief nature of the second syllable helps learners avoid turning it into a longer, separate vowel sound.
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Worried derives from the verb worry, which itself comes from Old English wrigian, worydan, meaning to strangle or seize by the throat, reflecting the historical sense of anxiety and distress. The modern sense of mental distress or anxious concern emerged in Middle English as “worren” or “worreden,” evolving into the adjective worried by the 16th–17th centuries. The root conveys a sense of physical tightness or constriction, akin to one’s nerves being pulled taut. Over time, the word broadened to cover emotional states of concern about future events, rather than purely physical symptoms. The noun form worry existed earlier, while the verb form became common with phrases like “to be worried about.” The semantic shift moved from a visceral, almost physical sensation to a cognitive-emotional state, and later to a general descriptor for ongoing anxiety in daily life—while retaining its core sense of unease and vigilance. First known uses appear in Old English and Middle English texts, with more consistent modern usage emerging in Early Modern English literature and gradually standardizing into contemporary usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "worried" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "worried" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "worried"
-ied sounds
-red sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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