wor·ry / ˈwərē/ • v. (-ries, -ried) 1. [intr.] give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles: he worried about his soldier sons in the war | I began to worry whether I had done the right thing. ∎  [tr.] cause to feel anxiety or concern: there was no need to worry her I've been worrying myself sick over my mother | [tr.] he is worried that we are not sustaining high employment | [as adj.] (worrying) the level of inflation has improved but remains worrying. ∎  [as adj.] (worried) expressing anxiety: there was a worried frown on his face. ∎  [tr.] cause annoyance to: the noise never really stops, but it doesn't worry me.2. [tr.] (of a dog or other carnivorous animal) tear at, gnaw on, or drag around with the teeth: I found my dog contentedly worrying a bone. ∎  (of a dog) chase and attack (livestock, esp. sheep). ∎  [intr.] (worry at) pull at or fiddle with repeatedly: he began to worry at the knot in the cord.• n. (pl. -ries) a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems: her son had been a constant source of worry to her. ∎  a source of anxiety: the idea is to secure peace of mind for people whose greatest worry is fear of attack.PHRASES: not to worry inf. used to reassure someone by telling them that a situation is not serious: not to worry—no harm done.DERIVATIVES: wor·ried·ly adv.wor·ri·er n.wor·ry·ing·ly adv. trade deficits are worryingly large.