afraid
adjective /əˈfreɪd/
/əˈfreɪd/
[not before noun]Idioms - 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 death.
- 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 She was afraid to open the door.
Synonyms afraidafraid- frightened
- scared
- terrified
- alarmed
- paranoid
- 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?
- frightened feeling fear; worried that something bad might happen:
- a frightened child
- She was frightened that the glass would break.
- scared (rather informal) feeling fear; worried that something bad might happen:
- The thieves got scared and ran away.
- terrified very frightened:
- I was terrified (that) she wouldn’t come.
- She looked at him with wide, terrified eyes.
- alarmed afraid that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen:
- She was alarmed at the prospect of travelling alone.
- paranoid (rather informal) afraid of other people for no reason or suspecting that they are trying to harm you, when really they are not:
- 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?
- Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you.
- 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.
- Tamsin was afraid of making a fool of herself.
- afraid to do something Don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand.
- The boy wasn’t afraid to say what he believed.
- He certainly isn't afraid to speak his 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.
- Roger was very afraid for her.
- They had already fired three people and he was afraid for his job.
- to be afraid for somebody's life/safety
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- rather
- very
- …
- for
- of
- nothing to be afraid of
More Like This Adjectives that do not come before a nounAdjectives that do not come before a noun- afloat
- addicted
- afraid
- alike
- alive
- alone
- ashamed
- asleep
- awake
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
I’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.’