nerve

UK: /ˈnɜː^rv/ US: /nɝv/ ,(nûrv)

Inflections of 'nerve' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

nerves

v 3rd person singular

nerving

v pres p

nerved

v past

nerved

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nerve /nɜrv/   n., v., nerved, nerv•ing. 
n. 

1. Anatomy [countable] one or more bundles of long, thin fibers forming part of a system that carries messages of feeling, motion, etc., between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.
2. courage under difficult circumstances:
   [uncountable] It took nerve to enter the burning building.
3. boldness;
   impudent behavior:
   [uncountable] You have a lot of nerve, insulting us like that.
4. nerves, [plural] nervousness:
   a bad attack of nerves.
5. nerves, [plural] ability to remain calm:
   The noise of the battle had left his nerves shot.

v. [~ + object]

6. to give strength, life, or courage to:
   He nerved himself for the attack.

Idioms

7. Idioms get on someone's nerves, to irritate or annoy someone.

Related Words

nerve is a noun, nervous and nervy are adjectives:
You have a lot of nerve. He was nervous before the test. That was a nervy thing to say to your parents.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nerve  (nûrv), n., v., nerved, nerv•ing. 
n. 

1. Anatomy one or more bundles of fibers forming part of a system that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, etc., between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.
2. a sinew or tendon:
   to strain every nerve.
3. firmness or courage under trying circumstances:
   an assignment requiring nerve.
4. boldness;
   audacity;
   impudence;
   impertinence:
   He had the nerve to say that?
5. nerves, nervousness:
   an attack of nerves.
6. strength, vigor, or energy:
   a test of nerve and stamina.
7. Dentistry (not in technical use) pulp tissue of a tooth.
8. Botany a vein, as in a leaf.
9. a line, or one of a system of lines, extending across something.
10. Idioms get on one's nerves, to irritate, annoy, or provoke one:
    Boisterous children get on my nerves.

v.t. 

11. to give strength, vigor, or courage to:
    Encouragement had nerved him for the struggle.

• Latin, as above
• Middle French
• Latin nervus sinew, tendon; akin to Greek neûron (see neuron); replacing Middle English nerf
• Middle English: nerve, tendon 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 3. steadfastness, intrepidity, fortitude, resolution.
• 6. power, force, might.
• 11. strengthen, fortify, invigorate, steel, brace.

Antonyms

• 6. weakness.
• 11. weaken.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nerve / nɜːv/ noun

1. any of the cordlike bundles of fibres that conduct sensory or motor impulses between the brain or spinal cord and another part of the body
2. courage, bravery, or steadfastness
3. lose one's nerve ⇒ to become timid, esp failing to perform some audacious act
4. boldness or effrontery; impudence
5. muscle or sinew (often in the phrase strain every nerve)
6. any of the veins of an insect's wing

verb (transitive)

1. to give courage to (oneself); steel (oneself)
2. to provide with nerve or nerves

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin nervus; related to Greek neuron; compare Sanskrit snāvan sinew