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Prepositions after adjectives

Worrying about, for, at, in or of?

Worrying commonly takes about or for. Other combinations are limited or usually nonstandard.

Quick answer

How is worrying used with prepositions?

Use worrying about for concerns and worrying for when fearing for someone's wellbeing. Worrying at, worrying in, and worrying of are generally not standard adjective patterns.

She is worrying about her interview.
We are worrying for the injured driver.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
worrying about + problem

Thinking anxiously about something

Use about for topics or situations causing concern.

He keeps worrying about his finances.
2
worrying for + person

Fearing for someone's safety

Use for when concern is focused on another person's wellbeing.

They are worrying for their relatives overseas.
3
worrying + clause

Using worrying without a preposition

Worrying can also be followed by a clause or used alone.

It is worrying that sales are falling.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
worrying about
She is worrying about the test.
feeling anxious about something
worrying for
We are worrying for the passengers.
fearing for someone's wellbeing
worrying at
He is worrying at the rope.
a different verb meaning repeatedly biting or pulling
worrying in
They are worrying in the office.
in is only a place adjunct here, not a fixed pattern
worrying of
She is worrying of the future.
nonstandard; use worrying about

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using worrying of

Use about after worrying when talking about concerns.

✕ I am worrying of my job. ✓ I am worrying about my job.

Confusing worrying at with anxiety

Worry at is a separate verb meaning to pull or gnaw repeatedly.

✓ The dog kept worrying at the blanket.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is worrying ___ her son's health.
2. We were worrying ___ the climbers during the storm.
3. The puppy kept worrying ___ the old shoe.

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Frequently asked questions

Is worrying about correct?

Yes. It is the standard pattern for anxiety or concern.

Can worrying for be used?

Yes. It means fearing for someone's wellbeing or safety.

What does worrying at mean?

It is a different meaning of worry, often used for animals biting or pulling something repeatedly.

warm-in-up-for-to, with wary of, about or in? weak in, on, at, for or from? wealthy in, of, by, from or with? weary of, from, in, with or about? wedded to, by, for, in or into? weekly for, in, on, with or to? weird for, to, about, in or with? "welcome to" or "welcome in"? "welcoming of" or "welcoming to"? "well-known for" or "well-known in"? well-received by, in, at, among or with?

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