afraidadjective
uk/əˈfreɪd/us/əˈfreɪd/afraid adjective (FEAR)
A2 [ after verb ] feeling fear, or feeling worry about the possible results of a particular situation:
He was/felt suddenly afraid.
I've always been afraid of flying/heights/spiders.
She was afraid for her children (= feared that they might be hurt).
[ + to infinitive ] Don't be afraid to say what you think.
[ + (that) ] She was afraid (that) he might be upset if she told him.
More examples
- She's afraid of being attacked if she walks across the park.
- He wasn't afraid to stand up to bullies.
- The government is afraid of further serious rioting today.
- Being afraid of the dark, she always slept with the light on.
- Don't go up the tower if you're afraid of heights.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Afraid
- be like a deer/rabbit caught in the headlights idiom
- bottle
- bottle out
- cower
- dread
- fear for sb/sth
- horror-struck
- in terror of your life idiom
- intimidated
- panic
- panic-stricken
- panicky
- pants
- quake
- shit a brick idiom
- terrified
- terror
- terror-stricken
- unconfident
- worst
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afraid adjective (SORRY)
I'm afraid...
More examples
- I'm afraid I'm not a very good advertisement for the diet since I've actually put on weight!
- I'm afraid physics will always be a closed book to me.
- I'm afraid I disagree with you on several counts .
- I'm afraid those days are gone and they'll never come again.
- My culinary skills are rather limited, I'm afraid!
A2 used to politely introduce bad news or disagreement:
This is your room - it's rather small, I'm afraid.
I don't agree at all, I'm afraid.
I'm afraid you've completely misunderstood the question.
[ + (that) ] I'm afraid (that) we can't come this evening after all.
"Was she impressed with our work?" "I'm afraid not (= no)."
"Does this mean I've got to leave?" "I'm afraid so." (= Yes.)
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making & accepting apologies
- absolution
- atonement
- conciliate
- cut
- excusable
- excuse
- excuse/pardon my French! idiom
- forge
- forgiving
- make it up to sb idiom
- mend
- mend your fences idiom
- overlook
- pardon (me) idiom
- recompense
- reconcile
- repentant
- sink
- take sb back
- unrepentant
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