fear

1 of 2

noun

ˈfir

: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

b(1)

: an instance of this emotion

(2)

: a state marked by this emotion

: anxious concern : solicitude

: profound reverence and awe especially toward God

: reason for alarm : danger

fear

2 of 2

verb

feared; fearing; fears

transitive verb

: to be afraid of : expect with alarm

fear the worst

: to have a reverential awe of

fear God

archaic : frighten

archaic : to feel fear in (oneself)

intransitive verb

: to be afraid or apprehensive

feared for their lives

feared to go out at night

fearer noun

Example Sentences

Noun He was trembling with fear. unable to walk the streets without fear of being mugged They regarded their enemies with fear and hatred. I've been trying to overcome my fear of flying. The doctor's diagnosis confirmed our worst fears. The government is trying to allay fears of a recession. Employees expressed fears that the company would go out of business. He told us about all his hopes and fears. She has a morbid fear of cats. Verb He was a cruel king who was feared and hated by his subjects. There's no need to fear. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In her research on math anxiety, Ms. Tobias discovered that many college students had a similar fear of science.

Richard Sandomir, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 The Monitor agreed not to use the real names of Aida and Maryam for fear of reprisals from the Taliban against their family.

Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Sep. 2022 Maryann was so popular that Ms. Baranski shied away from tippling roles afterward, for fear of getting typecast.

New York Times, 6 Sep. 2022 At the same time, the move deprives Moscow of its most potent economic leverage on the continent and could remove any remaining misgivings in European capitals about raising sanctions on Moscow for fear of retribution.

Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Doctors reported a sharp increase in the number of women avoiding prenatal care for fear of getting arrested, while the number of babies born in withdrawal from narcotics did not drop.

Cary Aspinwall, al, 1 Sep. 2022 Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members don’t trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution.

Lolita C. Baldor, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members don’t trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution.

Lolita C. Baldor, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Aug. 2022 And have no fear: That frosting design is made with a simple toothpick.

Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2022

Verb

What many investors fear is that, eventually, companies that have been able to weather rising costs by raising prices for their goods and services will be less able to do so as the Federal Reserve keeps tightening monetary policy.

Akane Otani, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 The enemy is now at the heart of the realm: The story reads like an aftertaste of the invasion fear that Britons had endured in the intervening years.

John Garth, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2022 Still, expect the pass rush to be the element most opposing teams fear.

New York Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Dozens of beachgoers swarmed the Bay Area coast Saturday afternoon as temperatures started rising, the onset of what state officials fear will be a dangerous heat wave.

Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Sep. 2022 Anyone can request an inspection from the county, but many tenants fear retribution from their landlords, said Jessica Guinn, Cobb’s community development director.

Taylor Croft, ajc, 2 Sep. 2022 The looming potential of blackouts comes when officials fear demand for electricity will exceed the state's ability to supply it, California Governor Newsom said in a press conference Wednesday.

Celina Tebor, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 Focusing on what will happen once the storm has passed will give you the strength to overcome moments of doubt and fear.

Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 1 Sep. 2022 Seven children are hunted by an evil spirit, which appears as what its victims fear the most.

Milan Polk, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fer, going back to Old English fǣr, fēr "unexpected danger, peril," going back to Germanic *fēra- or *fēran- (whence also Old Saxon fār "lurking danger," Old High German fāra "ambush, danger," Old Norse fár "evil, mischief, plague"), perhaps going back to a lengthened-grade nominal derivative of a proposed Indo-European verbal base *per- "test, risk" — more at peril entry 1

Note: Attested in Gothic only in the presumed derivative ferja, translating Greek enkáthetos "one put in secretly, spy." Though the etymology proposed above is conventional in dictionaries, the original meaning of the Germanic etymon and its relation to a putative Indo-European *per- are uncertain. See note at peril entry 1. The meaning of the Middle and Modern English noun appears to be derivative of the verb (see fear entry 2) rather than a development of the Old English meaning.

Verb

Middle English feren "to frighten, be afraid of," going back to Old English fǣran, fēran "to take by surprise, frighten," weak verb derivative (as also Old Saxon fāron "to lurk in wait for, frighten," Old High German fārēn "to lurk in wait for, strive, devise ill against," Old Norse færa "to slight, taunt") of Germanic *fēra- or *fēran- — more at fear entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

fear 1 of 2

noun

as in anxiety

the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger the sight of the headless horseman filled the schoolmaster with fear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

anxiety
fearfulness
dread
panic
terror
worry
trepidation
fright
scare
horror
concern
dismay
alarm
phobia
nervousness
apprehension
pang
alarum
agitation
jitters
qualm
creeps
timidity
disquiet
consternation
cowardice
twinge
discomposure
perturbation
willies
funk
faintheartedness
timorousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

confidence
assurance
boldness
courage
fearlessness
fortitude
daring
bravery
aplomb
self-confidence
self-assurance
intrepidity
stoutness
dauntlessness
courageousness
valor
hardihood
nerve
gallantry
audacity
intrepidness
guts
doughtiness

as in worry

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble fear for her family's safety drove her to seek help from neighbors she hardly knew

Synonyms & Similar Words

worry
anxiety
concern
unease
concernment
fearfulness
apprehension
uncertainty
nervousness
uneasiness
apprehensiveness
anxiousness
disquietude
dread
panic
agitation
disquiet
discomfort
doubt
tension
desperation
perturbation
solicitude
anguish
stress
agita
sweat
care
nervosity
dismay
desperateness
distress
angst
tremor
consternation
disturbance
jitters
upset
torment
misgiving
discomposure
alarm
suspense
edginess
jumpiness
strain
qualm
franticness
vexation
distraction
compunction
incertitude
presentiment
hand-wringing
foreboding
scruple
alarum
cold feet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unconcern
contentment
ease
peace
calmness
tranquility
serenity
content
relief
calm
easiness
comfort
peacefulness
quietude
tranquillity
placidity
consolation
quiet
solace
placidness
sereneness
tranquilness

fear

2 of 2

verb

as in to worry

to experience concern or anxiety her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

worry
trouble
fret
stress
sweat
stew
fuss
care a hang
bother
despair
sweat blood
give a hang
long
agonize
pine
yearn
chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

accept
tolerate
endure
bear
abide
sustain
take
stomach
stick out

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of fear are alarm, dread, fright, panic, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

The words alarm and fear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

The synonyms dread and fear are sometimes interchangeable, but dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

While the synonyms fright and fear are close in meaning, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

The words panic and fear can be used in similar contexts, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

In some situations, the words terror and fear are roughly equivalent. However, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

单词	fear
释义	fear 1 of 2 noun ˈfir 1 a : an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger b(1) : an instance of this emotion (2) : a state marked by this emotion 2 : anxious concern : solicitude 3 : profound reverence and awe especially toward God 4 : reason for alarm : danger fear 2 of 2 verb feared; fearing; fears transitive verb 1 : to be afraid of : expect with alarm fear the worst 2 : to have a reverential awe of fear God 3 archaic : frighten 4 archaic : to feel fear in (oneself) intransitive verb : to be afraid or apprehensive feared for their lives feared to go out at night fearer noun Synonyms Noun alarm alarum anxiety dread fearfulness fright horror panic scare terror trepidation Verb bother fret fuss stew stress sweat trouble worry See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun He was trembling with fear. unable to walk the streets without fear of being mugged They regarded their enemies with fear and hatred. I've been trying to overcome my fear of flying. The doctor's diagnosis confirmed our worst fears. The government is trying to allay fears of a recession. Employees expressed fears that the company would go out of business. He told us about all his hopes and fears. She has a morbid fear of cats. Verb He was a cruel king who was feared and hated by his subjects. There's no need to fear. See More Recent Examples on the Web Noun In her research on math anxiety, Ms. Tobias discovered that many college students had a similar fear of science. Richard Sandomir, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 The Monitor agreed not to use the real names of Aida and Maryam for fear of reprisals from the Taliban against their family. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Sep. 2022 Maryann was so popular that Ms. Baranski shied away from tippling roles afterward, for fear of getting typecast. New York Times, 6 Sep. 2022 At the same time, the move deprives Moscow of its most potent economic leverage on the continent and could remove any remaining misgivings in European capitals about raising sanctions on Moscow for fear of retribution. Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Doctors reported a sharp increase in the number of women avoiding prenatal care for fear of getting arrested, while the number of babies born in withdrawal from narcotics did not drop. Cary Aspinwall, al, 1 Sep. 2022 Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members don’t trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution. Lolita C. Baldor, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members don’t trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution. Lolita C. Baldor, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Aug. 2022 And have no fear: That frosting design is made with a simple toothpick. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2022 Verb What many investors fear is that, eventually, companies that have been able to weather rising costs by raising prices for their goods and services will be less able to do so as the Federal Reserve keeps tightening monetary policy. Akane Otani, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 The enemy is now at the heart of the realm: The story reads like an aftertaste of the invasion fear that Britons had endured in the intervening years. John Garth, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2022 Still, expect the pass rush to be the element most opposing teams fear. New York Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Dozens of beachgoers swarmed the Bay Area coast Saturday afternoon as temperatures started rising, the onset of what state officials fear will be a dangerous heat wave. Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Sep. 2022 Anyone can request an inspection from the county, but many tenants fear retribution from their landlords, said Jessica Guinn, Cobb’s community development director. Taylor Croft, ajc, 2 Sep. 2022 The looming potential of blackouts comes when officials fear demand for electricity will exceed the state's ability to supply it, California Governor Newsom said in a press conference Wednesday. Celina Tebor, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 Focusing on what will happen once the storm has passed will give you the strength to overcome moments of doubt and fear. Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 1 Sep. 2022 Seven children are hunted by an evil spirit, which appears as what its victims fear the most. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Noun Middle English fer, going back to Old English fǣr, fēr "unexpected danger, peril," going back to Germanic fēra- or fēran- (whence also Old Saxon fār "lurking danger," Old High German fāra "ambush, danger," Old Norse fár "evil, mischief, plague"), perhaps going back to a lengthened-grade nominal derivative of a proposed Indo-European verbal base per- "test, risk" — more at peril entry 1 Note: Attested in Gothic only in the presumed derivative ferja,* translating Greek enkáthetos "one put in secretly, spy." Though the etymology proposed above is conventional in dictionaries, the original meaning of the Germanic etymon and its relation to a putative Indo-European per- are uncertain. See note at peril entry 1. The meaning of the Middle and Modern English noun appears to be derivative of the verb (see fear entry 2) rather than a development of the Old English meaning. Verb Middle English feren* "to frighten, be afraid of," going back to Old English fǣran, fēran "to take by surprise, frighten," weak verb derivative (as also Old Saxon fāron "to lurk in wait for, frighten," Old High German fārēn "to lurk in wait for, strive, devise ill against," Old Norse færa "to slight, taunt") of Germanic fēra- or fēran- — more at fear entry 1 First Known Use Noun 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3 Phrases Containing fear fear for fear the worst fear not fear for one's life fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) for fear of in fear for one's/someone's life I fear go where others fear to tread in fear for one's life live in fear never fear in fear of one's life no fear put the fear of God into (someone) strike fear into one's heart without fear of contradiction expect/fear the worst strike fear into the hearts of fear for one's/someone's life fear of the unknown See More fear for fear the worst fear not fear for one's life fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) for fear of in fear for one's/someone's life I fear go where others fear to tread in fear for one's life live in fear never fear in fear of one's life no fear put the fear of God into (someone) strike fear into one's heart without fear of contradiction expect/fear the worst strike fear into the hearts of fear for one's/someone's life fear of the unknown See More Kids Definition fear 1 of 2 verb ˈfir feared; fearing : to be afraid of : feel fear fear 2 of 2 noun : a strong unpleasant feeling caused by being aware of danger or expecting something bad to happen Medical Definition fear noun ˈfi(ə)r 1 : an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger and accompanied by increased autonomic activity 2 : an instance of fear fear 1 of 2 noun 1 as in anxiety the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger the sight of the headless horseman filled the schoolmaster with fear Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance anxiety fearfulness dread panic terror worry trepidation fright scare horror concern dismay alarm phobia nervousness apprehension pang alarum agitation jitters qualm creeps timidity disquiet consternation cowardice twinge discomposure perturbation willies funk faintheartedness timorousness Antonyms & Near Antonyms confidence assurance boldness courage fearlessness fortitude daring bravery aplomb self-confidence self-assurance intrepidity stoutness dauntlessness courageousness valor hardihood nerve gallantry audacity intrepidness guts doughtiness See More 2 as in worry an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble fear for her family's safety drove her to seek help from neighbors she hardly knew Synonyms & Similar Words worry anxiety concern unease concernment fearfulness apprehension uncertainty nervousness uneasiness apprehensiveness anxiousness disquietude dread panic agitation disquiet discomfort doubt tension desperation perturbation solicitude anguish stress agita sweat care nervosity dismay desperateness distress angst tremor consternation disturbance jitters upset torment misgiving discomposure alarm suspense edginess jumpiness strain qualm franticness vexation distraction compunction incertitude presentiment hand-wringing foreboding scruple alarum cold feet Antonyms & Near Antonyms unconcern contentment ease peace calmness tranquility serenity content relief calm easiness comfort peacefulness quietude tranquillity placidity consolation quiet solace placidness sereneness tranquilness See More fear 2 of 2 verb as in to worry to experience concern or anxiety her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her Synonyms & Similar Words worry trouble fret stress sweat stew fuss care a hang bother despair sweat blood give a hang long agonize pine yearn chafe Antonyms & Near Antonyms accept tolerate endure bear abide sustain take stomach stick out See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of fear are alarm, dread, fright, panic, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage. fear of the unknown The words alarm and fear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger. view the situation with alarm The synonyms dread and fear are sometimes interchangeable, but dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety. faced the meeting with dread While the synonyms fright and fear are close in meaning, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear. fright at being awakened suddenly The words panic and fear can be used in similar contexts, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity. the news caused widespread panic In some situations, the words terror and fear are roughly equivalent. However, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear. immobilized with terror Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation. raised the subject with trepidation
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fear

noun

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing fear

Kids Definition

verb

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser