- feeling fear; frightened because you think that you might be hurt or suffer
- Don't be afraid.
- afraid of somebody/something It's all over. There's nothing to be afraid of now.
- He had always been afraid of dogs.
- They know I'm afraid of heights.
- Are you afraid of spiders?
- afraid of doing something I started to feel afraid of going out alone at night.
- afraid to do something The children were afraid to open the door.
Synonyms afraidafraidfrightened ▪ scared ▪ terrified ▪ alarmed ▪ paranoidThese words all describe feeling or showing fear.afraid [not before noun] feeling fear; worried that something bad might happen:- There’s nothing to be afraid of.
- Aren’t you afraid (that) you’ll fall?
- a frightened child
- She was frightened that the glass would break.
- The thieves got scared and ran away.
- I was terrified (that) she wouldn’t come.
- They looked into the cave with wide, terrified eyes.
- He was alarmed at the prospect of travelling alone.
- You’re just being paranoid.
- afraid/frightened/scared of spiders, etc.
- frightened/scared/paranoid about …
- afraid/frightened/scared/terrified that …
- afraid/frightened/scared to open the door, etc.
- Don’t be afraid/frightened/scared/alarmed.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsa1- What has made you so deeply afraid of your boss?
- Are you afraid of the dark?
- I'm not afraid of you!
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- rather
- very
- …
- for
- of
- nothing to be afraid of
- worried about what might happen
- afraid of doing something She was afraid of upsetting her parents.
- He was afraid of making a fool of himself.
- afraid to do something Don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand.
- She certainly isn't afraid to speak her mind.
- afraid (that…) We were afraid (that) we were going to capsize the boat.
Extra Examples- He stopped abruptly, suddenly afraid to say the words out loud.
- She was tense, almost afraid to open the letter.
- You do know, don't you? You are just afraid to tell me.
- He was half afraid to look at her.
- Aren't you afraid (that) you'll fall?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- rather
- very
- …
- for
- of
- nothing to be afraid of
- afraid for somebody/something worried or frightened that something unpleasant, dangerous, etc. will happen to a particular person or thing
- I'm not afraid for me, but for the baby.
- They had already fired three people and he was afraid for his job.
- I am very afraid for their safety.
- I was afraid for my life.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- rather
- very
- …
- for
- of
- nothing to be afraid of
Word OriginMiddle English: past participle of the obsolete verb affray, from Anglo-Norman French afrayer ‘disturb, startle’, based on an element of Germanic origin related to Old English frithu ‘peace, safety’.
Idioms
See afraid in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee afraid in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishI’m afraid
- used as a polite way of telling somebody something that is unpleasant or disappointing, or that you are sorry about
- I can't help you, I'm afraid.
- I'm afraid we can't come.
- I'm afraid that it's not finished yet.
- He's no better, I'm afraid to say.
- ‘Is there any left?’ ‘I'm afraid not.’
- ‘Will it hurt?’ ‘I'm afraid so.’
Check pronunciation:
afraid