2
: any of the filamentous bands of nervous tissue that connect parts of the nervous system with the other organs, conduct nerve impulses, and are made up of axons and dendrites together with protective and supportive structures
3
4
a
: a sore or sensitive point
her remark touched a nerve
b
5
6
: the sensitive pulp of a tooth
nerved; nerving
: to give strength or courage to : supply with physical or moral force
Synonyms
Examples of nerve in a Sentence
Noun
The optic nerve in the eye allows you to see.
a condition affecting the nerves in her arm
It takes a lot of nerve to start a new career.
He found the nerve to stand up to his boss.
I was going to ask her to the dance, but I lost my nerve.
You have a lot of nerve to talk to me that way.
I can't believe she had the nerve to call me a liar.
Verb
needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow
Recent Examples on the Web
Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
The same can not be said for Kwan, who gets a case of the nerves when gunshot wound Dorian wakes up.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
By supporting your nervous system, these vitamins heal the nerves that are often times damaged by inflammation in the brain.
—Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
But the eye is quite a challenge for electronics design: With one of the highest nerve densities of any human tissue, the cornea is 300 to 600 times as sensitive as our skin.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2024
And Alycia Adame is adept at scene-stealing, playing the bubbly assistant Gabby, responsible for calming Liz’s nerves and cheerleading her victories.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Even though most people have natural immunity against the ancient bacteria that causes leprosy, thousands across the world get sick every year from the nerve and skin disease.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
This means the treatment can trigger things like constipation, pain and nerve problems, diarrhea, skin changes, mood swings, mouth sores, and bruising and bleeding throughout each cycle, Dr. Avila says.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 25 Mar. 2024
Folate can correct anemia from lack of B12, but not the underlying nerve damage from being deficient in B12 long term.
—Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
Another impact is placed under the jaw, then attached to a nerve that controls the tongue.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
The same can not be said for Kwan, who gets a case of the nerves when gunshot wound Dorian wakes up.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
By supporting your nervous system, these vitamins heal the nerves that are often times damaged by inflammation in the brain.
—Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
But the eye is quite a challenge for electronics design: With one of the highest nerve densities of any human tissue, the cornea is 300 to 600 times as sensitive as our skin.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2024
And Alycia Adame is adept at scene-stealing, playing the bubbly assistant Gabby, responsible for calming Liz’s nerves and cheerleading her victories.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Even though most people have natural immunity against the ancient bacteria that causes leprosy, thousands across the world get sick every year from the nerve and skin disease.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
This means the treatment can trigger things like constipation, pain and nerve problems, diarrhea, skin changes, mood swings, mouth sores, and bruising and bleeding throughout each cycle, Dr. Avila says.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 25 Mar. 2024
Folate can correct anemia from lack of B12, but not the underlying nerve damage from being deficient in B12 long term.
—Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nerve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nerve
Cite this Entry
“Nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nerve
1 of 2 noun1
: tendon
strain every nerve
2
: one of the stringy bands of nervous tissue connecting the nervous system with other organs and carrying nerve impulses
3
a
: power of endurance or control
a test of mind and nerve
b
: fearless boldness
had the nerve to confront the mysterious stranger
c
: behavior marked by a rude or disrespectful boldness
what nerve of her to say that
4
a
: a sore or sensitive point
that remark hit a nerve
b
plural
: a condition of being very nervous : jitters
had a case of the nerves before her performance
5
: a vein in a leaf or in the wing of an insect
6
: the sensitive soft inner part of a tooth
nerved
adjective
ˈnərvd
nerve
2 of 2 verb
nerved; nerving
: to give strength or courage to
Medical Definition
nerve
noun1
: any of the filamentous bands of nervous tissue that connect parts of the nervous system with the other organs, conduct nerve impulses, and are made up of axons and dendrites together with protective and supportive structures and that for the larger nerves have the fibers gathered into funiculi surrounded by a perineurium and the funiculi enclosed in a common epineurium
2
nerves plural
: a state or condition of nervous agitation or irritability
3
: the sensitive pulp of a tooth
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