antsy

adjective

ant·​sy ˈant-sē 

1

informal : restless, fidgety

antsy children

also : impatient, eager

antsy for a new challenge

2

informal : nervous, apprehensive

antsy investors

Synonyms

• aflutter
• anxious
• atwitter
• dithery
• edgy
• goosey
• het up
• hinky [slang]
• hung up
• ill at ease
• insecure
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• nervy
• perturbed
• queasy
• queazy
• tense
• troubled
• uneasy
• unquiet
• upset
• uptight
• worried

Examples of antsy in a Sentence

he was feeling understandably antsy about the tax audit

after a few minutes in the formal restaurant, the kids got antsy

Recent Examples on the Web

The Warriors were up 43-23, a plus-nine stint that allowed coach Steve Kerr to stretch Curry’s rest time past seven minutes without Curry or the home crowd getting antsy. —Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025

Bad news: Rotten Tomatoes critics got antsy while watching the Anthony Mackie movie, giving it a 52% critics score. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025

As the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025, and then again from January to February, new Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough started to get a little bit antsy. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2025

As the Palisades transitions into recovery, leaders outlined the next steps in the process for residents who are antsy to begin rebuilding. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see ant entry 1

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

antsy

adjective

ant·​sy ˈant-sē 

informal

: restless sense 3, impatient