Afraid: meaning, definitions and examples

😨
Add to dictionary

afraid

 

[ əˈfreɪd ]

Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

feeling fear or anxiety; frightened

Synonyms

anxious, fearful, nervous, scared, terrified

Examples of usage

  • She was afraid of the dark.
  • He was afraid to ask for help.
  • I'm afraid I can't make it to the party.
  • The loud noise made the dog afraid.
  • She avoided the haunted house because she was afraid.
Context #2 | Adjective

concerned

feeling worry or concern about a possible event or situation

Synonyms

apprehensive, concerned, distressed, uneasy, worried

Examples of usage

  • I'm afraid he won't like the gift.
  • She's afraid her presentation won't go well.

Translations

Translations of the word "afraid" in other languages:

🇵🇹 com medo

🇮🇳 डर

🇩🇪 ängstlich

🇮🇩 takut

🇺🇦 наляканий

🇵🇱 przestraszony

🇯🇵 怖い (kowai)

🇫🇷 effrayé

🇪🇸 asustado

🇹🇷 korkmuş

🇰🇷 두려운 (duryeoun)

🇸🇦 خائف

🇨🇿 vyděšený

🇸🇰 vystrašený

🇨🇳 害怕的 (hàipà de)

🇸🇮 prestrašen

🇮🇸 hræddur

🇰🇿 қорыққан

🇬🇪 შეშინებული

🇦🇿 qorxmuş

🇲🇽 asustado

Etymology

The word 'afraid' originated from the Middle English word 'afered', which meant frightened or scared. It has roots in Old English and Germanic languages. Over time, the word evolved to its current form 'afraid' in Modern English. The concept of fear and being afraid has been a fundamental aspect of human emotion and survival throughout history, with expressions of fear playing a significant role in art, literature, and psychology.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,449, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.