stage fright.

Anxiety about performing or speaking while other people are watching.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a bout of stage fright
• overcome stage fright
• suffer from stage fright

On the page

Stage fright struck just as the announcer read her name.

He rehearsed perfectly alone, but stage fright muddled the opening line.

A friendly face in the front row helped her manage the stage fright.

Usage notes

Primary category: fear. Situational performance anxiety; it can affect experienced performers and does not establish a broader anxiety disorder. Usually uncountable in this sense.