fear1 nounfear2 verb
fearfear1 /fɪə $ fɪr/ ●●● S3 W1 noun 
WORD ORIGINfear1
Origin:
Old English fær ‘sudden danger’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- fear of flying
- Fears of a recession have wiped billions of dollars off share values.
- Curiosity overcame her fear.
- Her hands were shaking with fear.
- I glanced around in fear. Was someone following me?
- McCarthy exploited deep-seated fears about communism among the American people.
- My fear of the dentist goes back to when I was a child.
- On New Year's Eve we come together, and share our hopes and fears for the coming year.
- People fled in fear of their lives, as mud began to pour down the mountainside.
- The boat had gone. We stood frozen with fear, staring at the sea.
- The boy's eyes were full of fear.
- There was always the fear that he might never return.
- A tingle of fear mixed with excitement came over me.
- Her fears were groundless and she slid the door back.
- Meditation for scared warriors Where does fear come from, Lord?
- The fear is that if they are published, Parliament will pass a law against smearing politicians.
- The overhang has continued because companies held back shutdowns for fear of helping competitors.
- These men were despots, meaning they could kill their subjects without fear of retribution.
- With all these men, however, their egos are clearly strong enough to overcome any residual fear of the feminine.
- With their eyes erect and fear in their speed they run for the safety of the waves.
THESAURUS
a feeling of being frightened: · He was trembling with fear.· Fear of failure should not stop you trying.
a feeling of great fear, because you think that something terrible is about to happen: · She let out a scream of pure terror.
a sudden feeling of fear, or a situation that makes you feel this: · My body was shaking with fright.· You gave me a fright!· He’s had a bit of fright, that’s all.
a sudden feeling of fear or nervousness that makes you unable to think clearly or behave sensibly: · She was in such a panic that she hardly knew what she was doing!· There were scenes of sheer panic immediately following the bomb blast.
a feeling of fear or worry which shows in your voice or behaviour, because you think something bad might happen: · When I mentioned her name, he looked up at me in alarm.· The streets were calm and there was no sign of alarm.
a feeling that something bad or unpleasant might happen although there is no obvious reason why it should: · She felt the same sense of foreboding she had before her father died.
a permanent strong unreasonable fear of something: · I had a phobia about going to the dentist.
Longman Language Activatorthe feeling of being frightened the feeling you have when you are very frightened, or the thought that something very unpleasant will happen: · The boy's eyes were full of fear.fear of: · Fears of a recession have wiped billions of dollars off share values.· fear of flying· My fear of the dentist goes back to when I was a child.fear that: · There was always the fear that he might never return.do something in fear (=do something because you feel fear): · I glanced around in fear. Was someone following me?do something in fear of your life (=do something because you think you are going to be killed): · People fled in fear of their lives, as mud began to pour down the mountainside.shake/tremble/go white etc with fear: · Her hands were shaking with fear.frozen/sick with fear: · The boat had gone. We stood frozen with fear, staring at the sea.hopes and fears (=the things that you hope will happen and the things that you are frightened will happen): · On New Year's Eve we come together, and share our hopes and fears for the coming year.
a very strong feeling of fear when you think that something very bad is going to happen to you, especially that you will be killed: · Denver burst from the room, terror in her eyes.· The men on the quivering, battered boat were mad with terror.· Their faces were white, and their eyes were filled with terror.in terror (=because you are very frightened): · Shots were fired, and the children fled in terror.sheer terror (=very great terror): · I will never forget the look of sheer terror on her face.terror-stricken (=feeling terror): · Terror-stricken refugees fled across the border.
a strong feeling of shock and fear that you have when you see something terrible happen, or when you think of something terrible: · Jocasta turned white, a look of horror on her face. in horror: · The crowd watched in horror as the plane hit the ground and burst into flames.to somebody's horror (=making someone feel very frightened): · He suddenly realized to his horror that the brakes weren't working.· To his horror, PC Kelly saw a handgun protruding from the man's coat.
a sudden, strong feeling of fear when you are in a dangerous situation, that often makes you do things that are not sensible because you cannot think clearly: · There was a sudden panic and everyone started rushing towards the door.in panic: · Shoppers fled the street in panic after two bombs exploded in central London.get into a panic/be thrown into a panic: · She got into a real panic when she thought she'd lost the tickets.panic-stricken (=feeling panic): · The panic-stricken crowd pushed through the exit, and 10 people were crushed to death.
a feeling of fear because you think something bad is going to happen although you do not have any real reason for thinking this: · "Jeanie, I have to go away," he said, his voice full of foreboding.a feeling/sense of foreboding: · As they waited at the airfield, Sara had the same feeling of foreboding that she had felt before her father died.· He had a sudden sense of foreboding. Something was wrong, very wrong.
when you do not want to do something because you are frightened to be unwilling to do something because you are frightened about what may happen if you do it. Be scared is more informal than be afraid or be frightened: · I wanted to talk to you about it, but I was frightened.· We are urging our citizens to carry on as normal and not be afraid.· A lot of young children are frightened the first time they are put on a horse's back.be afraid/be frightened/be scared to do something: · Many old people are afraid to go out at night.be afraid/be frightened/be scared of doing something: · She asked me to come with her because she was scared of going there on her own.· He's frightened of flying in case there's a bomb on the plane.be afraid/be frightened/be scared (that): · She was afraid that if she went to the police, her husband would beat her up again.
to be unwilling to do something because you are extremely frightened about what may happen if you do it: · When my name was finally called I was terrified.be terrified (that): · I didn't tell my parents I was pregnant. I was terrified that they would throw me out of the house.be terrified of doing something: · They always travel by boat because Jimmy's terrified of flying.be terrified to do something: · She was too terrified to jump from the flames.
to feel worried and frightened about something you have to do: · I have to go to the dentist's tomorrow, and I'm dreading it.dread doing something: · The Wilsons were coming back from holiday today, and I was dreading telling them what had happened while they were away.
written to be frightened about what may happen if you do something: · Many of the gang's victims refused to give information to the police because they feared reprisals.fear (that): · The rescuers dug slowly and carefully, fearing that the wreckage might collapse on top of them.
formal to be unwilling to do something because you are worried about the possibility of trouble or danger: be fearful of: · The Energy Department, fearful of public reaction, has cancelled its plans to build four new nuclear reactors.be fearful of doing something: · The threats left her plagued by nightmares, and fearful of making public appearances. be fearful (that): · She gave up smoking when she was pregnant, fearful that it might damage her baby.
if you are unwilling to do something for fear of something bad happening, you are frightened that something bad will happen if you do it: · The workers are unhappy but will not complain for fear of losing their jobs.· I didn't turn on the light, for fear of waking the baby.· Women and the elderly refuse to leave their apartments, for fear of the hooligans who rule the streets.
to have a strong and unreasonable dislike and fear of something, especially of something that is not frightening for most people: · Carol had a phobia about snakes -- even talking about them made her shiver.· She has a phobia about telephone answering machines and will never leave a message.
frightened of someone or something feeling very nervous and afraid of someone or something, because you think something bad is going to happen to you because of them: · Don't be frightened, it's only thunder.· Two frightened children were hiding in a corner of the room.frightened of: · A lot of people are frightened of dentists.· Are you frightened of the dark?frightened to do something: · I was frightened to move in case the branch broke.frightened of doing something: · He was frightened of making mistakes.frightened (that): · I was frightened my parents would get divorced, and wished that there was something I could do to make them happy again. · Alice kept perfectly still, frightened that the dog might attack her.
frightened: · Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you.afraid of: · He had a terrible temper and everyone was afraid of him.· It's amazing how many people are afraid of spiders.afraid (that): · Billy was afraid his aunt would punish him if he owned up.afraid to do something: · She was afraid to speak up in front of all these important people.afraid of doing something: · I didn't tell anyone, because I was afraid of being punished (=afraid I might be punished).
especially spoken frightened: · The first time I went on a motorcycle I was really scared.scared of: · She's always been scared of heights.scared to do something: · I stood still, scared to move forward and scared to go back.scared of doing something: · I think they were all scared of offending him.scared (that): · I hate reading out my work in class - I'm scared that people are going to laugh at me.scared stiff/scared to death (=very scared): · When he came back he looked scared stiff, as if he'd seen a ghost.
extremely frightened: · The faces of the four terrified teenagers looked up at us.terrified of: · He's absolutely terrified of snakes.terrified to do something: · The little boy cowered behind the tree, terrified to make a sound.terrified (that): · I was terrified that my father would find out I had lied to him.absolutely terrified : · I couldn't move - I was absolutely terrified.
extremely frightened, especially so frightened that you cannot move: · She just stood there, petrified at the thought of the crowds waiting outside.absolutely petrified: · He had the gun pointed at my head. I was absolutely petrified.petrified of: · She's a very nervous dog, and she's petrified of traffic.be petrified with fear: · He was petrified with fear as I held my knife in front of him.
so frightened that you cannot think clearly or behave sensibly, especially when something has suddenly frightened you: · A few seconds after the explosion the street was full of panic-stricken people, fleeing in all directions.· Mr Cottle dashed in, looking panic-stricken.· In a panic-stricken attempt to free herself from Annie's grip, she snatched the scissors off the table.
to always be afraid of something unpleasant that is fairly likely to happen: · Until security can be assured, the people here will continue to live in fear.live in fear of something/doing something: · After leaking the secret document, Sarah lived in fear of being found out.live in fear (that): · A surgeon lives in constant fear that something will go wrong in an operation when he's feeling tired.
informal extremely frightened: · You must have been scared stiff when you saw the car coming straight towards you.· Helen had to go for an interview with the school Principal -- she was scared stiff.· I knew a man was following me, and I was scared out of my wits.· Some of the prisoners were only 16 or 17, and they looked scared to death.
fear of being in high places · He refused to climb the ladder because of his fear of heights.· She overcame her fear of heights and did a parachute jump for charity.
to feel frightened when you are in high places: · Hiking this trail is not recommended for people who are afraid of heights.· She's so scared of heights we couldn't get her to go parasailing.
formal a feeling that things are moving and that you are going to fall, that you get especially when you are on or in a high place: · Just the thought of standing on the balcony gave her vertigo.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives
We tried to calm people’s fears. Fay felt a chill of fear as she watched Max go off with her daughter. This just confirms my worst fears. She was determined to conquer her fear of flying. You can say what you like without fear of contradiction. He was crazed with grief after the death of his mother. Their faces were suddenly filled with fear. A manager’s job is to instil determination into his players. The nightmare left her with a sense of fear and loathing. When she heard of her son’s death, she was mad with grief. The trip was made all the worse by Frankie’s morbid fear of flying. I just sat there, numb with fear. He was petrified with fear when he saw the gun. Richmond was quaking with fury. I felt a quiver of excitement run through me. This attack raises fears of increased violence against foreigners. They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal. She shivered with fear and anger. The scandal has stoked public outrage. Greene was on his feet now, his body trembling with rage. Gareth had an unhealthy interest in death. Her voice shook, and her face was white with anger.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· Her worst fear was never seeing her children again.
(=one that is not reasonable)· He grew up with an irrational fear of insects.
(=very strong and difficult to change)· He exploited people’s deep-seated fears about strangers.
(=without any reason)· As it turned out, these fears were groundless.
verbs (=stop being afraid)· She managed to conquer her fear of flying.
· He was shaking with fear after being held at gunpoint.
· She was determined not to show fear.
(=be very afraid)· We were gripped by fear as the boat was tossed around by the waves.
(=be so afraid that you cannot move)· Bruce was paralysed with fear when he saw the snake.
(=show that what you were afraid of has actually happened)· The look on Colin’s face confirmed all my worst fears.
(=help someone stop being afraid)· Frank eased my fears about not being able to speak the local language.
phrases (=be afraid that you may be killed)· Celia was in fear of her life when she saw the truck coming toward her.
· The residents are too full of fear to leave their houses.
(=be always afraid of something)· They were constantly in fear of an enemy attack.
· He had no fear of death.
· We each had different hopes and fears about the trip.
COMMON ERRORS ► Do not say that someone ‘has fear’. Say that someone is frightened or is afraid.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES We tried to calm people’s fears. Fay felt a chill of fear as she watched Max go off with her daughter. This just confirms my worst fears. She was determined to conquer her fear of flying. You can say what you like without fear of contradiction. He was crazed with grief after the death of his mother. (=used when someone is missing and people are worried that they are dead)· Hundreds of people are feared dead in a ferry disaster.
· The Transport Minister dismissed fears that the Cotswold railway line would close.
· The prisoners stared at him, their eyes full of hatred.
· Fear of failure should not deter you from trying.
Their faces were suddenly filled with fear.· What are your hopes for the future?
(=all the things someone hopes for and is afraid of)· The crew members have different hopes and fears about the trip.
A manager’s job is to instil determination into his players. The nightmare left her with a sense of fear and loathing. When she heard of her son’s death, she was mad with grief. The trip was made all the worse by Frankie’s morbid fear of flying. I just sat there, numb with fear. He was petrified with fear when he saw the gun. Richmond was quaking with fury. I felt a quiver of excitement run through me. This attack raises fears of increased violence against foreigners. They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal. (=be afraid that they will not be safe)· They fear for the safety of relatives they have left behind.
· Luke paused and she sensed his reluctance to continue.
· He stood there shaking with anger.
She shivered with fear and anger. The scandal has stoked public outrage. Greene was on his feet now, his body trembling with rage. Gareth had an unhealthy interest in death. Her voice shook, and her face was white with anger.· And every parent's greatest fear: could my child be abducted?.· But greater than her fear was the need of that which she bore.· She was beset of a sudden by a great fear ... She was utterly alone now.· But despite their fears of disease, the men still visited us, propelled by the greater fear of death.· Yet aside from that, my admiration for him as a person is perhaps as great as my fear of him.· Seminoles and blacks then stormed through Florida, attacking settlements and creating great fear among the white inhabitants.· He only knew that in his anxious and over-concerned life his second greatest fear was that she might leave.
· Alcuin's worst fears were not fulfilled until 806.· The audit demonstrated that many of their worst fears were true.· The message was short and cryptic and Corbett's worst fears were realised.· Or would it confirm their worst fears?· Her worst fear had been that Jake would show up before they had even left Lomond View.· But now, my worst fears have been borne out.· The worst fears of the residents were realised as the port was an immediate commercial success and heavy traffic quickly built up.· But the new picture confirms environmentalists' worst fears.
· She kept repeating to herself that it was an irrational fear, but logic did nothing to quell the lurking terror.· Even among those not so badly affected, ignorance about radiation produces powerful if sometimes irrational fear.· If your subject to these irrational fears, then use that fear as a trigger to change your attitude.· I have an irrational fear that Lucker will blank me.· It seems that anxious people condition most easily and it is thought that irrational fears are established in this way.· Again, careful teaching is important as well as loving discussion of these often irrational fears.· Their reactions can range from anger to irrational guilt, fear and embarrassment.
· The real fear that this revolution might overthrow the Tsar forced him to make some political concessions to appease the masses.· The threat of violence and real fear of revolution prompted the Government to adopt limited constitutional changes.· Little wonder then that the prospect of a Solidarity-led government clashing with Solidarity-led trade unions is a real fear to those involved.· It was necessary to acknowledge that the white minority had real fears about what would happen to them.· The Review Panel now inspires real fear in company directors.· The speed of others creates the real fear of being left behind.· And there's a very real fear the travellers will return for the concert.· But these were screams of real fear and soon I heard shouts and the sound of fighting from Antoinette's room.
VERB· Counselling should explore the employee's concerns about the move and try to allay fears.· In this way he can discuss current information with his wife and help to allay her fears.· Kelly argues that the removal of the requirement to aid decision-makers would allay fears.· Even the precautions he took could not allay her fears and it wasn't too long before he gave up trying.· Some Alliance supporters made statements that did little to allay such fears.· The virtual extinction of the dragon sister tutor should also help to allay your fears.· But he failed to allay fears that he will be a fatally flawed candidate when pitted against President Bush next autumn.· It might not allay fears, but it will clarify them.
· Midland Bank, one of the trustees of the Dumenil funds, stepped in to calm investors' fears.· Jonnie spoke to calm his fears.· If this made companies tremble, David Tweedie's pronouncements will have done nothing to calm their fears.· But her host's calm demeanour as he scribbled a few notes and went on to the next call calmed her fears.· The sounds of gunfire and shelling didn't do anything to calm my fears.
· Sure enough, to confirm our worst fears, the wind grew stronger in the evening.· But the new picture confirms environmentalists' worst fears.· An hour later, when the shock was over, he confirmed my fears: I had broken two ribs.· Bob learned to demand a bit less without confirming his worst fears.· The appointment made conservatives nervous, seemingly confirming their fears that a liberal onslaught was imminent.· Hearing you on the telephone just seemed to confirm my worst fears, and I didn't stop to reason things through.· A volley of bullets immediately peppered the ground directly in front of the doorway, confirming her worst fears.
· While the area had been designated a National Archaeological Reserve, he expressed fear of looting from the site.· Conservatives and civil libertarians alike had expressed fears over the provisions limiting federal appeals for prisoners.· A resident of Kimbolton Road expressed the fear that the new infirmary might be prejudicial to his property.· But many across the nation expressed fears that higher speeds will lead to more deaths.· Earlier, Selby's brother Jon expressed fears that the authorities were planning military action.· The streets of Baghdad functioned as normal Saturday, but people expressed fear of more air strikes.· Clive expressed his distrust and fear of being let down by a very detached attitude in all his relationships.· His foes immediately expressed fear he will launch new attacks on them.
· Resting there, in the protection of the mighty canopy, was an object which made him feel faint with fear.· He felt little fear now about doing what he had to do.· No doubt they could feel surprise or fear and had, perhaps, some capacity for shame, remorse or even deceit.· On the landing outside her bedroom door she suddenly felt weak with fear.· He'd marked her as he left, wanting to feel her fear.· She felt her ignorance and fear sweep down on her head.· Often they have a kind of superstitious feeling that once their fears are spoken, they may come true.· And for a moment Glover had felt a wave of fear for the boys.
· His voice was filled with dread and fear and heavy weights.· The younger ones were filled with innocent fear.· Yes, we love them, but their power over us fills us with fear and gnawing guilt.· Her mind was filled with fears and hopes, the principal one being the same for her as for him.· His eyes, which, moments earlier, had been filled with fear and horror, were now clear, almost calm.· But it was not the sight of Sir Hugo or the girl that filled the men with fear.· But suddenly she was filled with another fear - about the wisdom of staying on in such close proximity with him.
· It's a cliche to say people are living in fear, but sadly it's all too true in Larne.· The town was a cluster of different quarters, all living in fear of massacre.· Adults went home, listened to quiet music, lived in disbelief and fear.· Orphans of Addiction Children whose parents abuse drugs live daily with fear, neglect and helplessness.· Would she have to live permanently with the fear that she had failed him?· Sometimes he hit me, sometimes he just threatened me, and I lived in terrible fear of him.· And Karen, the controller living in fear of the cost-cutting chief financial officer?
· But you can talk to your boss about the fear that you might lose your job.· Just as tension spoils the golf swing, the fear of losing our job becomes paralyzing and makes the loss more likely.· And you know, too, that you need have no fear of losing me when I marry.· Gonzalez insisted that fears of lost momentum should not be a concern.· Now the workers whose complaints started the probe fear they could lose their jobs.· A deeper fear inside the immediate fear of being lost in the dark.· They equally fear losing power through the ballot box.· First, we have a fear of losing control.
· Last night's film examined a one-day course which helps people overcome their fear of flying.· Boys who need to show that they can overcome their fear or that they have none.· Does being brave mean being strong or overcoming our fears?· She had overcome her fear of Rhayader.· This kind of firm overcame that fear, Mr Muirhead said.· To see clues that others have overlooked, to face danger and overcome fear.· Once people overcome their fears about computers and begin to use them in telecottages, they acquire their own equipment.· Most refuse to defy the cultural definition of masculinity, to overcome their fears, or to relinquish their male privilege.
· Their happy marriage, their seeming perfection, was porcelain: they daren't raise their voices for fear of shattering it.· The prospect of censorship in cyberspace has raised fears and sparked debates over decency and privacy.· Over the last three years, tiger numbers have fallen from 44 to 15, raising fears for their viability.· The actions raised fears of a renewal of the nationalist infighting that killed 12 people last year.· Does the reporting raise women's fear of crime?· This has already raised fears among foreign governments that the administration is not speaking with one voice on vital international issues.
· Besides, her presence wasn't likely to strike fear into this large man.· A thought struck me, bringing fear with it.· If there is a single subject guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of parents, it is drugs.· Nothing here to strike fear into the hearts of the people.· Believe me, all those cannon, mortars and volley guns should strike fear into the heart of the enemy.· There is no procedure that strikes more fear and trepidation into the hearts of the ignorant and misinformed than the lumbar puncture.
· Before I had heard a dozen words, I was trembling with fear.· My legs had begun to tremble, with fear now, not anger.· Thus she left them, and Metaneira fell speechless to the earth and all there trembled with fear.· Her body was trembling with fear.· Eli has been trembling with fear for the ark.· Then I saw that his bloodless lips were pulled back from his huge white teeth ... I trembled with fear and horror.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► no fear!PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)► be frozen with fear/terror/fright
- He had some home truths to impart and presented them without fear or favour.
- Now near retirement after a long career in product development, Mr Dulude can presumably act without fear or favour.
- I became more and more of a recluse, avoiding our old haunts for fear of running into him.
- Many blacks and other minorities decline, for fear of government intrusion, to respond to written forms.
- She refuses to admit that she is the daughter for fear of disgracing her parents.
- She saw no reason for fear, and said so repeatedly.
- The exercise appears to be little more than an outlet for fear and prejudice.
- The occupying forces generally stay within their heavily fortified garrisons for fear of attack.
- Their happy marriage, their seeming perfection, was porcelain: they daren't raise their voices for fear of shattering it.
- When your whole being was overflowing with loathing and hate there was no room for fear.
- The IRS tries to put the fear of God into people who don't pay enough tax.
- But he failed to allay fears that he will be a fatally flawed candidate when pitted against President Bush next autumn.
- In an attempt to allay these concerns, Rhone and other staff members met with citizens from the rehabilitation area several times.
- In this way he can discuss current information with his wife and help to allay her fears.
- Kelly argues that the removal of the requirement to aid decision-makers would allay fears.
- Margaret came from a wealthy family, and Richard was anxious to allay any suspicion that he had married for money.
- Sly had to allay their suspicions and stop them probing any further.
- Some Alliance supporters made statements that did little to allay such fears.
- The virtual extinction of the dragon sister tutor should also help to allay your fears.
- She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
- The crew is in mortal terror.
- But never fear, Nephew Tom.
- Dry your tears, we are here, never fear.
- Feedback Your Letters to the Editor More loony letters than usual this month, but never fear - we can take it.
- For, never fear, I shall be trying again in the near future to succeed with this frustrating catfish.
- If that describes you, never fear.
- She felt as if she had never feared anything.
- They had never feared him before.
- My worst fears were realized when I saw the test questions.
- His worst fears were realized and he was arrested.
- As Grant hurried down the narrow concrete stairs, he felt the first warning stab of pain in his torn thigh muscle.
- I bit my arm and was grateful for the stab of pain, for the resistance of the bone beneath the skin.
- I felt a sharp stab of disappointment and was surprised and angry at myself.
- Instinctively he rolled in the saddle and felt the white-hot stab of pain as something sharp scored a line across his shoulders.
- She stretched, and little stabs of pain shot through her.
- Supposing, he thought, with a stab of fear, he was never going to have any friends?
- The policeman pinched his eyes as if overcome with a sudden stab of pain.
- Believe me, all those cannon, mortars and volley guns should strike fear into the heart of the enemy.
- Every crisis would strike terror into the hearts of people everywhere.
- Nothing here to strike fear into the hearts of the people.
- The Slav opposition collapsed almost immediately, as if the very name of Charles had struck terror into their hearts.
- The very physical description of the Huns proved sufficient in and of itself to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies.
- I jerked back, tingling with fear, feeling it peel off like a strand of elastoplast.
- I remember walking into the board room tingling with fear and energy.
- My face was tingling with fear and I felt in imminent need of a toilet-roll.
- We were tingling with anticipation and at one with our surroundings.
- Distillery boss Billy Hamilton fears the worst after Heath was assisted off in the second-half with a torn calf muscle.
- From what he has heard he fears the worst about the likelihood of a quick turnaround on the field.
- I knew I was being irrational but I began to fear the worst.
- Leading the mob assault into the fisherman's cabin, the pastor expects the worst.
- Only then did we begin to fear the worst.
- Quite frankly we expected the worst.
WORD FAMILYnounfearfearfulness ≠ fearlessnessadjectivefearful ≠ fearlessfearsomeverbfearadverbfearfully ≠ fearlessly
1[countable, uncountable] the feeling you get when you are afraid or worried that something bad is going to happenfear of a fear of flyingfear that There are fears that share prices could decrease still further.fear for The girl’s parents expressed fears for her safety.in fear The children looked at her in fear.without fear People must be able to express their views without fear of criticism.2for fear (that), for fear of something because you are worried that you will make something happen: She finally ran away for fear that he would kill her.for fear of doing something He got to the station early, for fear of missing her.3no fear! British English informal used humorously to say that you are definitely not going to do something: ‘Are you going to Bill’s party tonight?’ ‘No fear!’4[uncountable] the possibility or danger that something bad might happen: There’s no fear of revolt now.5put the fear of God into somebody informal to make someone feel that they must do something, by making sure they know what will happen if they do not do it: The Italian manager must have put the fear of God into his team.6without fear or favour British English formal in a fair way: The law must be enforced without fear or favour.COLLOCATIONSadjectivessomebody’s worst/greatest fear· Her worst fear was never seeing her children again.an irrational fear (=one that is not reasonable)· He grew up with an irrational fear of insects.a deep-seated fear (=very strong and difficult to change)· He exploited people’s deep-seated fears about strangers.groundless (=without any reason)· As it turned out, these fears were groundless.verbsconquer/overcome your fear (=stop being afraid)· She managed to conquer her fear of flying.shake/tremble with fear· He was shaking with fear after being held at gunpoint.show fear· She was determined not to show fear.be gripped by fear (=be very afraid)· We were gripped by fear as the boat was tossed around by the waves.be paralysed with fear (=be so afraid that you cannot move)· Bruce was paralysed with fear when he saw the snake.confirm somebody’s fears (=show that what you were afraid of has actually happened)· The look on Colin’s face confirmed all my worst fears.ease/allay/dispel somebody’s fears (=help someone stop being afraid)· Frank eased my fears about not being able to speak the local language.phrasesbe in fear of/for your life (=be afraid that you may be killed)· Celia was in fear of her life when she saw the truck coming toward her.be full of fear· The residents are too full of fear to leave their houses.be/live in fear of something (=be always afraid of something)· They were constantly in fear of an enemy attack.have no fear of something· He had no fear of death.somebody’s hopes and fears· We each had different hopes and fears about the trip.COMMON ERRORS ► Do not say that someone ‘has fear’. Say that someone is frightened or is afraid.THESAURUSfear a feeling of being frightened: · He was trembling with fear.· Fear of failure should not stop you trying.terror a feeling of great fear, because you think that something terrible is about to happen: · She let out a scream of pure terror.fright a sudden feeling of fear, or a situation that makes you feel this: · My body was shaking with fright.· You gave me a fright!· He’s had a bit of fright, that’s all.panic a sudden feeling of fear or nervousness that makes you unable to think clearly or behave sensibly: · She was in such a panic that she hardly knew what she was doing!· There were scenes of sheer panic immediately following the bomb blast.alarm a feeling of fear or worry which shows in your voice or behaviour, because you think something bad might happen: · When I mentioned her name, he looked up at me in alarm.· The streets were calm and there was no sign of alarm.foreboding /fɔːˈbəʊdɪŋ $ fɔːrˈboʊ-/ a feeling that something bad or unpleasant might happen although there is no obvious reason why it should: · She felt the same sense of foreboding she had before her father died.phobia /ˈfəʊbiə $ ˈfoʊ-/ a permanent strong unreasonable fear of something: · I had a phobia about going to the dentist.fear1 nounfear2 verb
fearfear2 ●●○ W2 verb VERB TABLE
fear
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | fear |
| he, she, it | fears | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | feared |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have feared |
| he, she, it | has feared | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had feared |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will fear |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have feared |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Fearing a blizzard, many people stayed home.
- He was a ruthless dictator, feared by the entire country.
- Many of the gang's victims refused to give information to the police because they feared reprisals.
- The rescuers dug slowly and carefully, fearing that the wreckage might collapse on top of them.
- At the age of thirty, Gertrude lay on her death-bed, fearing that she was unworthy of heaven.
- I feared the snow would bury the words beneath its drifts.
- If you see Mrs Meir, tell her I am not a person who fears anyone.
- Second, the actual difficulties encountered overseas appeared to be of a considerably lower order of intensity than had been feared.
- Some have decided not to return, fearing they will lose the pleasant images of memory they developed long ago.
- They say the only people who need fear the cameras are those doing somthing illegal.
- This will comfort those on the Labour side who most feared negative Nice fallout in an election year.
- Whitney, the butcher, who was feared for his savagery and barbarism.
Longman Language Activatorexpecting something bad to happen
someone who is pessimistic always expects bad things to happen: · Don't be too pessimistic - we may still win the game.pessimistic about: · He's quite pessimistic about his chances of getting another job.pessimistic that: · Beron is pessimistic that a peaceful solution can be found.
someone who always expects bad things to happen: · Don't be such a pessimist - I'm sure you'll pass your driving test!
expressing an attitude that is not at all hopeful and showing that you do not expect success: · The latest economic surveys are more downbeat as a result of the recent decline in world trade.
not having or offering much hope for the future: · A year ago it seemed that a peace treaty looked possible, but now the outlook is much gloomier.· The world's largest chip maker gave a gloomy forecast for the first quarter.gloomy about: · Most political analysts are gloomy about the country's future.
formal to expect a situation to have the worst possible result because you know how bad the situation could be: · After I hadn't heard from him for several hours, I began to fear the worst.· Fearing the worst, police have called in reinforcements to help control the crowds.
when you do not want to do something because you are frightened to be unwilling to do something because you are frightened about what may happen if you do it. Be scared is more informal than be afraid or be frightened: · I wanted to talk to you about it, but I was frightened.· We are urging our citizens to carry on as normal and not be afraid.· A lot of young children are frightened the first time they are put on a horse's back.be afraid/be frightened/be scared to do something: · Many old people are afraid to go out at night.be afraid/be frightened/be scared of doing something: · She asked me to come with her because she was scared of going there on her own.· He's frightened of flying in case there's a bomb on the plane.be afraid/be frightened/be scared (that): · She was afraid that if she went to the police, her husband would beat her up again.
to be unwilling to do something because you are extremely frightened about what may happen if you do it: · When my name was finally called I was terrified.be terrified (that): · I didn't tell my parents I was pregnant. I was terrified that they would throw me out of the house.be terrified of doing something: · They always travel by boat because Jimmy's terrified of flying.be terrified to do something: · She was too terrified to jump from the flames.
to feel worried and frightened about something you have to do: · I have to go to the dentist's tomorrow, and I'm dreading it.dread doing something: · The Wilsons were coming back from holiday today, and I was dreading telling them what had happened while they were away.
written to be frightened about what may happen if you do something: · Many of the gang's victims refused to give information to the police because they feared reprisals.fear (that): · The rescuers dug slowly and carefully, fearing that the wreckage might collapse on top of them.
formal to be unwilling to do something because you are worried about the possibility of trouble or danger: be fearful of: · The Energy Department, fearful of public reaction, has cancelled its plans to build four new nuclear reactors.be fearful of doing something: · The threats left her plagued by nightmares, and fearful of making public appearances. be fearful (that): · She gave up smoking when she was pregnant, fearful that it might damage her baby.
if you are unwilling to do something for fear of something bad happening, you are frightened that something bad will happen if you do it: · The workers are unhappy but will not complain for fear of losing their jobs.· I didn't turn on the light, for fear of waking the baby.· Women and the elderly refuse to leave their apartments, for fear of the hooligans who rule the streets.
to have a strong and unreasonable dislike and fear of something, especially of something that is not frightening for most people: · Carol had a phobia about snakes -- even talking about them made her shiver.· She has a phobia about telephone answering machines and will never leave a message.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a terrifying ordeal in which she feared for her life Hundreds of people are feared dead in the ferry disaster. ‘Were they satisfied?’ ‘I fear not.’COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES We tried to calm people’s fears. Fay felt a chill of fear as she watched Max go off with her daughter. This just confirms my worst fears. She was determined to conquer her fear of flying. You can say what you like without fear of contradiction. He was crazed with grief after the death of his mother. Their faces were suddenly filled with fear. A manager’s job is to instil determination into his players. The nightmare left her with a sense of fear and loathing. When she heard of her son’s death, she was mad with grief. The trip was made all the worse by Frankie’s morbid fear of flying. I just sat there, numb with fear. He was petrified with fear when he saw the gun. Richmond was quaking with fury. I felt a quiver of excitement run through me. This attack raises fears of increased violence against foreigners. They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal. She shivered with fear and anger. The scandal has stoked public outrage. Greene was on his feet now, his body trembling with rage. Gareth had an unhealthy interest in death. Her voice shook, and her face was white with anger.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
a terrifying ordeal in which she feared for her life Hundreds of people are feared dead in the ferry disaster. ‘Were they satisfied?’ ‘I fear not.’ We tried to calm people’s fears. Fay felt a chill of fear as she watched Max go off with her daughter. This just confirms my worst fears. She was determined to conquer her fear of flying. You can say what you like without fear of contradiction. He was crazed with grief after the death of his mother. (=used when someone is missing and people are worried that they are dead)· Hundreds of people are feared dead in a ferry disaster.
· The Transport Minister dismissed fears that the Cotswold railway line would close.
· The prisoners stared at him, their eyes full of hatred.
· Fear of failure should not deter you from trying.
Their faces were suddenly filled with fear.· What are your hopes for the future?
(=all the things someone hopes for and is afraid of)· The crew members have different hopes and fears about the trip.
A manager’s job is to instil determination into his players. The nightmare left her with a sense of fear and loathing. When she heard of her son’s death, she was mad with grief. The trip was made all the worse by Frankie’s morbid fear of flying. I just sat there, numb with fear. He was petrified with fear when he saw the gun. Richmond was quaking with fury. I felt a quiver of excitement run through me. This attack raises fears of increased violence against foreigners. They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal. (=be afraid that they will not be safe)· They fear for the safety of relatives they have left behind.
· Luke paused and she sensed his reluctance to continue.
· He stood there shaking with anger.
She shivered with fear and anger. The scandal has stoked public outrage. Greene was on his feet now, his body trembling with rage. Gareth had an unhealthy interest in death. Her voice shook, and her face was white with anger.· After the war MI5 turned its attention to the growing menace of Bolshevism which the government feared would soon engulf the country.· The provisional government, fearing that Santa Anna might be the source of later trouble, agreed to his departure.· Both governments fear censure if the fuel is shipped around the world again.· The federal government fears that other states are likely to follow suit.· The good name of Government, ministers feared, was being damaged.· And the vagaries of a jury were possibly another consideration: the government fearing the libertarian qualities of juries.· The socialist government feared a loss of government to the C.N.T. unless they held out a revolutionary future to the social masses.
· Course officials fear the seized batch isn't the end of the story.· And at the Oyster Creek nuclear plant in southern New Jersey, employees were evacuated by officials who feared an earthquake.· If the drought continues, officials fear it could drive cattle producers and farmers out of business permanently.· The fuel behind the rabies terror may be the fear of local health officials.· Gwinnett school officials say they fear the same fate when they turn to voters for more money next year.
· For that reason Minh Mang feared potentially disruptive ideas and practices.· So Chelsea had more reason than alliteration to fear a third successive failure to reach the third round.· Reporters have good reason to fear the anger of good sources.· For the same reason, I fear that an accountant's expert knowledge of tax havens may once again be a saleable commodity.· As to fear, who would have reason to fear Francis?· Both rulers had reason to fear.· But not for the reasons some had feared.
· Locals began to fear for her safety.· All along, authorities feared for their safety, because du Pont is an expert marksmen with a large gun collection.· It is unnecessary to produce a person who fears for his safety.· Male speaker I fear that safety standards will go down the drain as people seek to make most profit.· At several hospitals, emergency room personnel said they increasingly fear for their own safety.· Nevertheless, Sidonius did fear for the safety of his own family in the aftermath of the accession of Nepos.
VERB· And didn't it, in many ways, shape the whole presidential debate, raising causes that others feared to touch?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► fear not/never fearPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)► be frozen with fear/terror/fright
- Fearing the worst, police have called in reinforcements to help control the crowds.
- After I hadn't heard from him for several hours, I began to fear the worst.
- Rescuers feared the worst for the men trapped in the mine.
- I knew I was being irrational but I began to fear the worst.
- Mind you, I feared the worst for this year's crop of pantomimes.
- Only then did we begin to fear the worst.
- Rumours about impending changes will occur anyway, and staff not fully informed are likely to fear the worst.
- Then they called police and stayed up all night -- fearing the worst.
- An honorable death seemed far better than the life I feared.
- But what was it that I feared losing?
- Every day that passed while Jean-Claude was away I became increasingly disorientated. I feared I was going mad.
- How strange, I feared death less than I did the cold water.
- It would be nice if the two approaches met, but I fear this is true only in the simplest cases.
- Lastly, I fear I may have to disappoint you when I say that the coin is more interesting than valuable.
- We are, I fear, in danger of becoming extinct.
- What I fear for my people is milk in which the devil lurks between the froth and the cream.
- But he failed to allay fears that he will be a fatally flawed candidate when pitted against President Bush next autumn.
- In an attempt to allay these concerns, Rhone and other staff members met with citizens from the rehabilitation area several times.
- In this way he can discuss current information with his wife and help to allay her fears.
- Kelly argues that the removal of the requirement to aid decision-makers would allay fears.
- Margaret came from a wealthy family, and Richard was anxious to allay any suspicion that he had married for money.
- Sly had to allay their suspicions and stop them probing any further.
- Some Alliance supporters made statements that did little to allay such fears.
- The virtual extinction of the dragon sister tutor should also help to allay your fears.
- She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
- The crew is in mortal terror.
- But never fear, Nephew Tom.
- Dry your tears, we are here, never fear.
- Feedback Your Letters to the Editor More loony letters than usual this month, but never fear - we can take it.
- For, never fear, I shall be trying again in the near future to succeed with this frustrating catfish.
- If that describes you, never fear.
- She felt as if she had never feared anything.
- They had never feared him before.
- My worst fears were realized when I saw the test questions.
- His worst fears were realized and he was arrested.
- As Grant hurried down the narrow concrete stairs, he felt the first warning stab of pain in his torn thigh muscle.
- I bit my arm and was grateful for the stab of pain, for the resistance of the bone beneath the skin.
- I felt a sharp stab of disappointment and was surprised and angry at myself.
- Instinctively he rolled in the saddle and felt the white-hot stab of pain as something sharp scored a line across his shoulders.
- She stretched, and little stabs of pain shot through her.
- Supposing, he thought, with a stab of fear, he was never going to have any friends?
- The policeman pinched his eyes as if overcome with a sudden stab of pain.
- Believe me, all those cannon, mortars and volley guns should strike fear into the heart of the enemy.
- Every crisis would strike terror into the hearts of people everywhere.
- Nothing here to strike fear into the hearts of the people.
- The Slav opposition collapsed almost immediately, as if the very name of Charles had struck terror into their hearts.
- The very physical description of the Huns proved sufficient in and of itself to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies.
- I jerked back, tingling with fear, feeling it peel off like a strand of elastoplast.
- I remember walking into the board room tingling with fear and energy.
- My face was tingling with fear and I felt in imminent need of a toilet-roll.
- We were tingling with anticipation and at one with our surroundings.
- Distillery boss Billy Hamilton fears the worst after Heath was assisted off in the second-half with a torn calf muscle.
- From what he has heard he fears the worst about the likelihood of a quick turnaround on the field.
- I knew I was being irrational but I began to fear the worst.
- Leading the mob assault into the fisherman's cabin, the pastor expects the worst.
- Only then did we begin to fear the worst.
- Quite frankly we expected the worst.
WORD FAMILYnounfearfearfulness ≠ fearlessnessadjectivefearful ≠ fearlessfearsomeverbfearadverbfearfully ≠ fearlessly
1[intransitive, transitive] to feel afraid or worried that something bad may happen: Fearing violence, the group asked for police protection.fear (that) Police fear that there may be further terrorist attacks.fear to do something formal Women feared to go out at night.fear for somebody His wife seemed depressed, and he feared for his children.fear for somebody’s safety/life a terrifying ordeal in which she feared for her life Hundreds of people are feared dead in the ferry disaster.GRAMMARIn more formal English, you say it is feared that something is true: · It is feared that the child has been abducted.2fear the worst to think that the worst possible thing has happened or might happen: When Tom heard about the accident he immediately feared the worst.3[transitive] to be afraid of someone and what they might do: As a leader, he was distrusted and even feared.4I fear formal used when telling someone that you think that something bad has happened or is trueI fear (that) I fear that there is little more we can do.I fear so/I fear not ‘Were they satisfied?’ ‘I fear not.’5fear not/never fear formal used to tell someone not to worry: Never fear, he’ll be with us soon. → God-fearing