afraid
adjective
UK/əˈfreɪd/US/əˈfreɪd/
feeling fear or anxiety; frightened
Example Sentences
Many people are afraid of spiders due to their unpredictable movements and appearance.
She's afraid of speaking in public, which often stops her from sharing valuable ideas in meetings.
They felt afraid when they heard the loud thunder during the storm.
He admits that he is afraid of failure, yet he continues pushing beyond his comfort zone to discover new possibilities.
Some children are afraid of the dark, so parents often leave a nightlight on to ease their fears.
I was afraid I wouldn’t pass the exam, but I decided to put in extra study hours, attend review sessions, and remain confident in the knowledge I had diligently acquired.
Teachers encourage students not to be afraid to ask questions, emphasizing that curiosity and engagement are essential for deeper learning and intellectual growth.
Although she was afraid to confront the bully, she recognized that standing up for herself was the only way to regain her sense of safety and self-respect.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Feeling fear, anxiety, or unease about something threatening or unknown.Use “afraid” to express apprehension or fear in response to potential danger, unfamiliar circumstances, or unsettling possibilities. It often appears in everyday speech and written text to convey anxiety or dread: “I’m afraid of heights,” indicates a fear triggered by high places, while “I’m afraid we’ll be late” expresses worry about a looming time constraint. Psychologically, fear prompts caution or avoidance, serving as an emotional response to perceived threats—real or imagined. In social contexts, people might say, “I’m afraid to speak up,” indicating anxiety about judgment or backlash. Beyond literal dangers, “afraid” can also highlight personal insecurity or uncertainty, such as “I’m afraid I won’t do well on the test.” While the word leans toward vulnerability, it’s a normal human emotion and can encourage problem-solving or preventive measures. In writing, “afraid” personalizes the character’s emotional state, allowing readers to empathize with their worries or sense the tension in a scene. Whether you’re describing a specific phobia (e.g., claustrophobia) or a general state of unease, “afraid” succinctly captures the essence of apprehension, signaling that something is amiss or daunting. Balancing the use of “afraid” with action or reassurance can help portray a realistic emotional range—characters or individuals might find courage to face fears, revealing growth or resilience. Ultimately, “afraid” emphasizes how feelings of fear shape our decisions, relationships, and sense of safety in both everyday moments and extraordinary circumstances.
Alternatives
To express fear or apprehension in different contexts or tones, consider alternatives like “scared,” “frightened,” “alarmed,” or “uneasy.” “Scared” is common and colloquial, suitable for everyday conversation—“I’m scared of spiders.” “Frightened” carries a slightly more intense connotation, often associated with a specific incident or immediate threat. “Alarmed” suggests a sudden awareness of danger or urgency, such as “I was alarmed by the loud noise outside.” “Uneasy” hints at a milder, lingering sense of discomfort or dread, more subtle than outright terror. Meanwhile, “anxious” can highlight both worry and anticipation, bridging the gap between fear and stress, e.g., “I’m anxious about the job interview.” Words like “terrified” or “petrified” ramp up intensity, implying a very strong or even paralyzing fear. Each choice adjusts your expression’s strength and nuance, helping you tailor the emotional impact to your situation. Whether you’re telling a story, writing a report, or having a casual chat, selecting the right synonym refines how you convey the underlying worry or dread. This attention to word choice creates more precise communication, ensuring the listener or reader clearly understands the depth and type of fear being described. By mixing and matching various terms, you can capture everything from subtle, persistent unease to immediate, overwhelming terror.
Writing
When using “afraid” in writing, focus on illustrating the nature of fear and its effect on a person’s thoughts, actions, or environment. In fiction, your character might be afraid of entering a dark, deserted house—describing their tense posture, racing heart, or rapid breathing immerses readers in the emotional stakes. If writing an essay about overcoming fear, pinpoint the internal dialogue that leads someone to action: “She was afraid to confront her boss, but her desire for fairness spurred her on.” Conveying the shift from fear to bravery, or from denial to acceptance, lets readers track progression and growth. In personal narratives, you might reflect on your own experience—perhaps the first time you traveled alone, highlighting how being afraid underscored both the risk and the excitement. In research-based writing, “afraid” can mark a psychological response, referencing studies on anxiety or phobias to show how people cope with or internalize their worries. Varied sentence structures—incorporating short, punchy phrases when fear spikes, or longer, introspective lines when it lingers—helps replicate the emotional ebb and flow. Including physical cues, like sweating palms or a trembling voice, grounds the abstract feeling in relatable experiences. No matter the genre, combining “afraid” with vivid detail and narrative context allows you to transform a simple word into a compelling emotional driver, supporting thematic depth and reader empathy. The result is writing that resonates, capturing both the vulnerability and the potential strength that arise from facing fear head-on.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “afraid” simply conveys that you’re worried, uneasy, or fearful about something. It’s easy to slip into common phrases like “I’m afraid I can’t make it,” which also carry a polite undertone of regret or mild apology. Friends might say, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” offering reassurance that you won’t be judged or inconveniencing anyone. If you’re chatting about movies or activities, you might mention, “I’m too afraid to watch horror films alone,” or “I’m afraid of roller coasters.” Sometimes, “afraid” can sound more polite than “scared,” especially if you’re concerned about possibly offending someone—like, “I’m afraid that might be too expensive for our budget.” In casual texting or social media, it can also introduce a note of caution, e.g., “I’m afraid we might get caught in the rain—should we bring umbrellas?” Though it’s a straightforward word, mixing up synonyms or lighter expressions—“a bit nervous,” “kind of uneasy”—can keep your conversation varied and friendly. Generally, “afraid” works well to signal apprehension without being overly dramatic, fitting naturally into lighthearted or everyday contexts while maintaining clarity about your hesitation or fear.
Etymology
The term “afraid” traces back to Middle English, evolving from the Old English “afǣran,” which combined the prefix “a-” (intensive) with “fǣran” (to frighten). Over centuries, its structure and spelling shifted to encapsulate the modern meaning of feeling fear or anxiety. Historically, it underscored the action of causing dread, with related forms indicating both the state of being startled and the act of frightening others. The word’s progression mirrors the broader Germanic and Indo-European linguistic patterns where prefixes intensify or modify base verbs. By the time “afraid” entered everyday English, it became primarily an adjective, signifying the emotional result of fear: a sense of worry, trembling anticipation, or alarm. Its usage spread beyond direct threats, expanding to hint at subtler anxieties, polite regret (“I’m afraid you’re mistaken”), or even mild disclaimers in conversation. Today, “afraid” remains a staple of English vocabulary for articulating fear, trepidation, and unease, maintaining its centuries-old function as a ready descriptor of the quintessential human emotion that emerges in the face of real or perceived dangers.