fear

noun

UK /fɪə(r)/

Word Forms

singular	fear
plural	fears

1
uncountable the feeling that you have when you are frightened
Edward knew it was dangerous, but he felt no fear.
fear of:
She eventually managed to overcome her fear of the dark.
in fear:
Martin screamed in fear.
be filled with fear:
I was suddenly filled with fear.
shake/tremble with fear:
She was shaking with fear.
Synonyms and related words
Fear and fright
fear
fright
alarm
Collocates
Verbs frequently used with fear as the object
▪ conquer, dismiss, overcome
2
countable something bad or unpleasant that you are afraid might happen
A meeting was set up to try to allay workers’ fears.
fear about:
There are fears about the safety of the nuclear plant.
fear of:
This latest case has raised fears of an epidemic.
fear for:
He expressed fears for his missing wife’s safety.
fear that:
Sandbags were placed along the shore amid fears that the lake would overflow.
for fear that:
Some organizations are afraid to venture into the world of social media for fear that there will be a lot of negative chatter.
Synonyms and related words
Risks, threats and dangers
risk
hazard
menace
Collocates
Verbs frequently used with fear
▪ allay, alleviate, assuage, calm, dispel, ease, soothe
3
countable/uncountable the possibility that something bad will happen
fear of:
There’s no fear of becoming bored in a place like this.
fear (that):
I don’t think there’s any fear that that will happen.
Synonyms and related words
Risks, threats and dangers
risk
hazard
menace

phrases

for fear of (doing) something

no fear

put the fear of God into someone

fear

noun

US /fɪr/

Word Forms

singular	fear
plural	fears

1
uncountable the feeling that you have when you are frightened
Edward knew it was dangerous, but he felt no fear.
fear of:
She eventually managed to overcome her fear of the dark.
in fear:
Martin screamed in fear.
be filled with fear:
I was suddenly filled with fear.
shake/tremble with fear:
She was shaking with fear.
Synonyms and related words
Fear and fright
fear
fright
alarm
Collocates
Verbs frequently used with fear as the object
▪ conquer, dismiss, overcome
2
countable something bad or unpleasant that you are afraid might happen
A meeting was set up to try to allay workers’ fears.
fear about:
There are fears about the safety of the nuclear plant.
fear of:
This latest case has raised fears of an epidemic.
fear for:
He expressed fears for his missing wife’s safety.
fear that:
Sandbags were placed along the shore amid fears that the lake would overflow.
for fear that:
Some organizations are afraid to venture into the world of social media for fear that there will be a lot of negative chatter.
Synonyms and related words
Risks, threats and dangers
risk
hazard
menace
Collocates
Verbs frequently used with fear
▪ allay, alleviate, assuage, calm, dispel, ease, soothe
3
countable/uncountable the possibility that something bad will happen
fear of:
There’s no fear of becoming bored in a place like this.
fear (that):
I don’t think there’s any fear that that will happen.
Synonyms and related words
Risks, threats and dangers
risk
hazard
menace

phrases

for fear of (doing) something

put the fear of God into someone

fear

verb transitive

UK /fɪə(r)/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	fear
he/she/it	fears
present participle	fearing
past tense	feared
past participle	feared

1
to feel worried and afraid that something bad will happen or has already happened
The refugees fear persecution if they return to their own country.
One person is still missing, feared dead.
fear (that):
Health experts fear that a flu epidemic will hit Britain this winter.
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become afraid or frightened
scare
be/live in dread of
panic
Synonyms and related words
To worry or feel nervous about something
worry
panic
dread
2
to feel afraid of someone or something because they might harm you
He was hated and feared by his colleagues.
fear to do something:
neighbourhoods where police feared to go
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become afraid or frightened
scare
be/live in dread of
panic

phrases

fear not

fear the worst (for)

I fear (that)/so/not

phrasal verbs

fear for

fear

verb transitive

US /fɪr/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	fear
he/she/it	fears
present participle	fearing
past tense	feared
past participle	feared

1
to feel worried and afraid that something bad will happen or has already happened
The refugees fear persecution if they return to their own country.
One person is still missing, feared dead.
fear (that):
Health experts fear that there may be a flu epidemic this winter.
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become afraid or frightened
scare
be/live in dread of
panic
Synonyms and related words
To worry or feel nervous about something
worry
panic
dread
2
to feel afraid of someone or something because they might harm you
He was hated and feared by his colleagues.
fear to do something:
neighborhoods where police feared to go
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become afraid or frightened
scare
be/live in dread of
panic

phrases

fear not

fear the worst (for)

I fear (that)/so/not

phrasal verbs

fear for

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