Nervous means feeling worried, uneasy, or anxious about something that might happen. When you're nervous before giving a presentation to your class, your stomach might feel fluttery, your hands might shake a little, and you might have trouble sitting still.

Everyone feels nervous sometimes. You might feel nervous before trying out for a team, taking an important test, or meeting new people. Your body creates these uncomfortable feelings as a way of preparing you for challenging situations: your heart beats faster, sending extra blood to your muscles, and your mind becomes more alert.

The key thing about nervousness is that it's temporary. Once the presentation starts, once you begin the test, or once you actually meet those new people, the nervous feeling usually fades. Some people manage nervousness by taking deep breaths, preparing thoroughly ahead of time, or reminding themselves that feeling nervous is completely normal.

The word can also describe someone's general personality. A nervous person tends to worry more than others about everyday things. You might say your dog gets nervous during thunderstorms, or that a nervous laugh is the kind someone makes when they're uncomfortable. The nervous system is the network of nerves in your body that controls how you move, think, and feel.