Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense fears, present participle fearing, past tense, past participle feared
1. variable noun
Fear is the unpleasant feeling you have when you think that you are in danger.
I was sitting on the floor shivering with fear.
...boyhood memories of sickness and fear of the dark. [+ of]
All I want is to overcome my fear of heights, but I really don't know how.
2. verb
If you fear someone or something, you are frightened because you think that they will harm you.
Many people fear change because they do not like the old ways to be disrupted. [VERB noun]
3. variable noun [NOUN that]
A fear is a thought that something unpleasant might happen or might have happened.
These youngsters are motivated not by a desire to achieve, but by fear of failure. [+ of]
Then one day his worst fears were confirmed.
His fears might be groundless.
Good planning will help reduce uncertainty and the fear that accompanies it.
Synonyms: anxiety, concern, worry, doubt More Synonyms of fear
4. verb
If you fear something unpleasant or undesirable, you are worried that it might happen or might have happened.
She had feared she was going down with pneumonia or bronchitis. [VERB that]
More than two million refugees have fled the area, fearing attack by loyalist forces. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: worry, suspect, anticipate, be afraid More Synonyms of fear
5. variable noun [oft NOUN that]
If you say that there is a fearthat something unpleasant or undesirable will happen, you mean that you think it is possible or likely.
There was no fear that anything would be misunderstood.
There is a fear that the freeze on bank accounts could prove a lasting deterrentto investors.
6. verb
If you fear for someone or something, you are very worried because you think that they might be indanger.
Carla fears for her son. [VERB + for]
He fled on Friday, saying he feared for his life. [VERB + for]
7. variable noun
If you have fears for someone or something, you are very worried because you think that they might be indanger.
He also spoke of his fears for the future of his country's culture. [+ for]
...fear for her own safety.
8. verb
If you fearto do something, you are afraid to do it or you do not wish to do it.
She pursed her lips together, as though fearing to betray her news. [VERB to-infinitive]
9. verb
You say that you fear that a situation is the case when the situation is unpleasant or undesirable, and when you want to express sympathy, sorrow, or regret about it.
[formal]
I fear that a land war now looks very probable. [VERB that]
'Is anything left at all?'—'I fear not.' [Vso/not]
Synonyms: regret, feel, suspect, have a feeling More Synonyms of fear
10.
See in fear of
11.
See for fear of
12.
See fear not
13.
See no fear
14.
See to put the fear of God into someone
More Synonyms of fear
fear in British English
(fɪə)
noun
1.
a feeling of distress, apprehension, or alarm caused by impending danger, pain, etc
2.
a cause of this feeling
3.
awe; reverence
fear of God
4.
concern; anxiety
5.
possibility; chance
there is no fear of that happening
6. for fear of
7. no fear
8. put the fear of God into
verb
9.
to be afraid (to do something) or of (a person or thing); dread
10. (transitive)
to revere; respect
11. (tr; takes a clause as object)
to be sorry: used to lessen the effect of an unpleasant statement
I fear that you have not won
12. (intransitive; foll byfor)
to feel anxiety about something
13. an archaic word for frighten
Derived forms
fearer (ˈfearer)
noun
fearless (ˈfearless)
adjective
fearlessly (ˈfearlessly)
adverb
fearlessness (ˈfearlessness)
noun
Word origin
Old English fǣr; related to Old High German fāra, Old Norse fār hostility, Latin perīculum danger
FEAR in British English
(fɪə) psychology
acronym for
false evidence appearing real
Fear in American English
(fɪr)
Capecape on an island off the SE coast of N.C.
fear in American English
(fɪr)
noun
1.
a feeling of anxiety and agitation caused by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain, etc.; timidity; dread; terror; fright; apprehension
2.
respectful dread; awe; reverence
3.
a feeling of uneasiness or apprehension; concern
a fear that it will rain
4.
a cause for fear; possibility; chance
there was no fear of difficulty
verb transitive
5. Obsolete
to fill with fear; frighten
6.
to be afraid of; dread
7.
to feel reverence or awe for
8.
to expect with misgiving; suspect
I fear I am late
verb intransitive
9.
to feel fear; be afraid
10.
to be uneasy, anxious, or doubtful
Idioms:
for fear of
SYNONYMY NOTE: fear is the general term for the anxiety and agitation felt at the presence of danger;, dread refers to the fear or depression felt in anticipating something dangerous or disagreeable[to live in dread of poverty]; fright applies to a sudden, shocking, usually momentary fear [the mouse gave her a fright]; alarm implies the fright felt at the sudden realization of danger [he felt alarm at the sight of the pistol]; terror applies to an overwhelming, often paralyzing fear [the terror of soldiers in combat]; panic2 refers to a frantic, unreasoning fear, often one that spreads quickly and leads toirrational, aimless action [the cry of “fire!” created a panic]
Word origin
ME fer < OE fær, lit., sudden attack, akin to OHG fāra, ambush, snare: for IE base see peril
More idioms containing
fear
fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Examples of 'fear' in a sentence
fear
There were also fears about finding available homes.
The Sun (2016)
Sometimes there is a fear about getting tight to better players.
The Sun (2016)
Dozens of people are feared to have been killed and many more injured.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He says fear of failure keeps him afloat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If we say what we really think we fear that the entire fabric of our civilisation will be destroyed.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Well, fear is not something to build a solid foundation on.
The Sun (2017)
The move comes amid fears that the bank will remain under majority taxpayer ownership for longer than expected just a couple of years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I fear that my country is in danger.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A spokesman said:'Their actions cause fear and anxiety.
The Sun (2016)
You went through a horrible experience made worse by the fear and anxiety he left you with.
The Sun (2014)
There was no sign that she was in any distress or feared for her safety.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You could feel and see the utter fear throughout the country.
Christianity Today (2000)
There must also be fears for the ability of forces to work together.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We had to overcome our shyness or fear of people and social situations.
Shapiro, Jean Get the Best out of the Rest of Your Life (1990)
The fear of something is always going to be worse than the reality.
The Sun (2012)
Many who fear their partners leave before things get worse.
Stanko, Elizabeth Everyday Violence (1990)
You have to take away the fear.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Investors have feared that the bank could face mounting losses from its involvement in exotic investment funds.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They also fear that budget pressures will increase the use of custody.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The pattern of eating to assuage fear and anxiety was established for life.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There was a tangible sense of fear and distress as they were slipping down the ramp.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Drivers saw it as a further source of fear and danger.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Some users fear that their ability to snoop may amount to industrial espionage.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To have a player of that stature in your side puts fear into people.
The Sun (2016)
Too many people fear failure more than they want to win.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So has the idea that you should grab hold of nurse for fear of something worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She need not deal with her fears about what her anger will do to others or how they might react.
Wilkinson, Helena Beyond Chaotic Eating (1993)
Others may think that she fears having a fair trial and being found guilty of a crime she did not commit.
The Sun (2013)
Quotations
Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itselfFranklin D. RooseveltInaugural Address
I cannot do this. This is too much for me. I shall ruin myself if I take this risk. I cannot take the leap, it's impossible. All of me will be gone if I do this and I cling to myselfJ.N. Figgis
Let them hate, so long as they fearAccius
Perfect love casteth out fearBible: 1 John
Perfect fear casteth out loveCyril Connolly
In other languages
fear
British English: fear /fɪə/ NOUN
Fear is the unpleasant feeling of worry that you get when you think that you are in danger or that something horrible is going to happen.
I was shaking with fear.
American English: fear
Arabic: خَوْف
Brazilian Portuguese: medo
Chinese: 害怕
Croatian: strah
Czech: strach
Danish: frygt
Dutch: angst
European Spanish: miedo
Finnish: pelko
French: peur
German: Angst
Greek: φόβος
Italian: paura
Japanese: 不安
Korean: 두려움
Norwegian: frykt
Polish: obawa
European Portuguese: medo
Romanian: frică
Russian: страх
Latin American Spanish: miedo
Swedish: rädsla
Thai: ความกลัว
Turkish: korku
Ukrainian: страх
Vietnamese: nỗi sợ
British English: fear /fɪə/ VERB
If you fear something unpleasant, you are worried that it might happen, or might have happened.
She feared she had pneumonia.
American English: fear
Arabic: يَخافُ
Brazilian Portuguese: temer
Chinese: 害怕
Croatian: bojati se
Czech: bát se
Danish: frygte
Dutch: bang zijn
European Spanish: temer
Finnish: pelätä
French: craindre
German: fürchten
Greek: φοβάμαι
Italian: temere
Japanese: 恐れる
Korean: 두려워하다
Norwegian: frykte
Polish: bać się
European Portuguese: temer
Romanian: a-i fi frică
Russian: бояться
Latin American Spanish: temer
Swedish: vara rädd för
Thai: กลัว
Turkish: korkmak
Ukrainian: боятися
Vietnamese: sợ
All related terms of 'fear'
no fear
You use ' no fear ' to emphasize that you do not want to do something.
in fear of
If you are in fear of doing or experiencing something unpleasant or undesirable , you are very worried that you might have to do it or experience it.
Project Fear
a name given to any political campaign that seeks to arouse public alarm about proposed changes to the status quo
fear a loss
Loss is the fact of no longer having something or having less of it than before.
for fear of
If you take a particular course of action for fear of something, you take the action in order to prevent that thing happening .
fear not never fear
You say ' fear not ' or ' never fear ' to someone when you are telling them not to worry or be frightened .
put the fear of God into
to frighten
live in fear to live in terror
You can use expressions such as to live in fear and to live in terror to indicate that someone is always thinking about an unpleasant or frightening event, because they think that it might happen .
rush in where angels fear to tread
If you say that someone rushes in where angels fear to tread , you are criticizing them gently because they get themselves into dangerous or difficult situations without thinking carefully enough about what they are doing.
to put the fear of God into someone
If someone or something puts the fear of God into you, they frighten or worry you, often deliberately.
fools rush in where angels fear to tread
said to criticize a person who did something too quickly without thinking clearly about the likely consequences
Chinese translation of 'fear'
fear
(fɪəʳ)
n
(c/u) (= terror) 害怕 (hàipà) (种(種), zhǒng)
⇒ I stood there crying and shaking with fear.我站在那里，因为害怕而哭泣着，颤抖着。 (Wǒ zhàn zài nàlǐ, yīnwèi hàipà ér kūqìzhe, chàndǒuzhe.)
⇒ She was brought up with no fear of animals.她从小到大都不怕动物。 (Tā cóng xiǎo dào dà dōu bù pà dòngwù.)
(c/u) (= anxiety) 焦虑(慮) (jiāolǜ) (种(種), zhǒng)
⇒ My worst fears were quickly realized.最令我焦虑的事情很快就发生了。 (Zuì lìng wǒ jiāolǜ de shìqing hěnkuài jiù fāshēng le.)
vt
(= be scared of) 害怕 (hàipà)
⇒ a woman whom he disliked and feared一个他不喜欢而且害怕的女人 (Yī gè tā bù xǐhuan érqiě hàipà de nǚrén)
(= be worried about) 担(擔)心 (dānxīn)
⇒ An epidemic of plague was feared.人们担心将会流行瘟疫。 (Rénmen dānxīn jiāng huì liúxíng wēnyì.)
vi
to fear for sb/sth为(為)某人/某事担(擔)忧(憂) (wèi mǒurén/mǒushì dānyōu)
fear of heights/the dark怕高/黑 (pà gāo/hēi)
for fear of doing sth以免做某事 (yǐmiǎn zuò mǒushì)
⇒ They did not mention it for fear of offending him.他们没有提那件事以免触犯了他。 (Tāmen méiyǒu tí nà jiàn shì yǐmiǎn chùfànle tā.)
to fear that ... 恐怕 ... (kǒngpà ... )
All related terms of 'fear'
to fear that ...
恐怕 ... kǒngpà ...
fear of the unknown
对(對)未知事物的恐惧(懼) duì wèizhī shìwù de kǒngjù
to fear for sb/sth
为(為)某人/某事担(擔)忧(憂) wèi mǒurén/mǒushì dānyōu
to shake with fear
怕得发(發)抖 pà de fādǒu
fear of heights/the dark
怕高/黑 pà gāo/hēi
for fear of doing sth
以免做某事 yǐmiǎn zuò mǒushì ⇒ They did not mention it for fear of offending him. → 他们没有提那件事以免触犯了他。 Tāmen méiyǒu tí nà jiàn shì yǐmiǎn chùfànle tā.
to quiver with fear/rage
因恐惧(懼)/愤(憤)怒而颤(顫)抖 yīn kǒngjù/fènnù ér chàndǒu
to shiver with fear/cold
怕得/冷得发(發)抖 pàde/lěngde fādǒu
out of curiosity/fear/greed
出于(於)好奇/害怕/贪(貪)心 chūyú hàoqí/hàipà/tānxīn
to shake with fear/rage/laughter
( person ) 怕/气(氣)/笑得发(發)抖 pà/qì/xiào de fādǒu
to shudder with fear/cold etc
吓(嚇)得/冷得 等 发(發)抖 xià de/lěng de děng fādǒu
to strike fear/terror into people
( liter ) 引起人们(們)的恐惧(懼)/惊(驚)恐 yǐnqǐ rénmen de kǒngjù/jīngkǒng
to be numb with shock/fear/grief
因震惊(驚)/恐惧(懼)/悲痛而失去知觉(覺) yīn zhènjīng/kǒngjù/bēitòng ér shīqù zhījué
to be paralysed with or by fear/indecision
害怕/优(優)柔寡断(斷)得不知所措 hàipà/yōuróu guǎ duàn de bù zhī suǒ cuò
1 (noun)
Definition
a feeling of distress or alarm caused by danger or pain that is about to happen
I shivered with fear as darkness fell.
Synonyms
dread
She thought with dread of the cold winters to come.
horror
I felt numb with horror.
panic
The earthquake has caused panic among the population.
terror
I shook with terror whenever I flew in an aeroplane.
dismay
They reacted to the news with dismay.
awe
fright
To hide my fright I asked a question.
tremors
qualms
consternation
His decision caused consternation among his colleagues.
alarm
The news was greeted with alarm by MPs.
trepidation (formal)
It was with some trepidation that I viewed the prospect.
timidity
fearfulness
blue funk (informal)
apprehensiveness
cravenness
2 (noun)
Definition
something that causes fear
Flying was his greatest fear.
Synonyms
bugbear
Money is my biggest bugbear.
bête noire
Our real bête noire is the car-boot sale.
horror
nightmare
anxiety
terror
my dreams were haunted with terrors last night
dread
spectre
phobia
She has a phobia of spiders.
bogey
Age is another bogey for those in the acting profession.
thing (informal)
I have a thing about spiders.
3 (noun)
Definition
a feeling of distress or alarm caused by danger or pain that is about to happen
His fear might be groundless.
Synonyms
anxiety
His voice was full of anxiety.
concern
The move follows growing public concern over the spread of the disease.
worry
His last years were overshadowed by financial worry.
doubt
Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.
nerves (informal)
distress
Her mouth grew stiff with pain and distress.
suspicion
willies (informal)
creeps (informal)
butterflies (informal)
funk (informal)
angst
Young people can have feelings of isolation and angst.
unease
He tried to appear casual, but he couldn't conquer his unease.
apprehension
It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.
misgiving(s)
nervousness
I smiled in an attempt to hide my nervousness.
agitation
foreboding(s)
uneasiness
I felt a great uneasiness about meeting her again.
solicitude
He is full of tender solicitude towards my sister.
blue funk (informal)
heebie-jeebies (informal)
collywobbles (informal)
disquietude
4 (noun)
Definition
possibility or likelihood
There was no fear of her weeping.
Synonyms
possibility
There is still a possibility of unrest in the country.
likelihood
The likelihood is that people would be willing to pay.
5 (noun)
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Synonyms
awe
She gazed in awe at the great stones.
wonder
‘How did you know that?’ Bobby exclaimed in wonder.
respect
I have tremendous respect for him.
worship
The temple had been a centre of worship of the goddess Hathor.
dread
reverence
in mutual support and reverence for the dead
veneration
Churchill was held in veneration in his lifetime.
1 (verb)
Definition
to be afraid of (someone or something)
If people fear you they respect you.
Synonyms
be afraid of
dread
I'm dreading Christmas this year.
be scared of
be frightened of
shudder at
be fearful of
be apprehensive about
tremble at
be terrified by
have a horror of
take fright at
have a phobia about
have qualms about
live in dread of
be in a blue funk about (informal)
have butterflies in your stomach about (informal)
shake in your shoes about
2 (verb)
She feared she was coming down with flu.
Synonyms
worry
suspect
anticipate
We could not have anticipated the result of our campaigning.
be afraid
expect
I wasn't expecting to see you today.
foresee
He did not foresee any problems.
apprehend
3 (verb)
They feared God in a way which most modern men can hardly imagine.
Synonyms
revere
Those who support him revere him.
respect
I want him to respect me as a career woman.
reverence
Some men even seem to reverence them.
venerate
My father venerated the African gods with offerings and prayers.
stand in awe of
4 (verb)
Definition
to be sorry
I fear that a land war now looks probable.
Synonyms
regret
feel
I feel that he still misses her.
suspect
I suspect they were right.
have a feeling
have a hunch
have a sneaking suspicion
have a funny feeling
phrasal verb
See fear for something or someone
related words
related phobiaphobophobia
Quotations
Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself [Franklin D. Roosevelt – Inaugural Address]I cannot do this. This is too much for me. I shall ruin myself if I take this risk. I cannot take the leap, it's impossible. All of me will be gone if I do this and I cling to myself [J.N. Figgis]Let them hate, so long as they fear [Accius]Perfect love casteth out fear [Bible: 1 John]Perfect fear casteth out love [Cyril Connolly]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alarm
Definition
fear aroused by awareness of danger
The news was greeted with alarm by MPs.
Synonyms
fear,
horror,
panic,
anxiety,
distress,
terror,
dread,
dismay,
fright,
unease,
apprehension,
nervousness,
consternation,
trepidation (formal),
uneasiness
in the sense of angst
Definition
a feeling of anxiety
Young people can have feelings of isolation and angst.
Synonyms
anxiety,
worry,
distress,
torment,
unease,
apprehension,
agitation,
malaise,
perturbation,
vexation,
fretfulness,
disquietude,
inquietude (formal)
in the sense of anticipate
Definition
to foresee and act in advance of
We could not have anticipated the result of our campaigning.