Frighten: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ˜ฑ
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frighten

 

[ หˆfraษชtn ]

Verb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

scary

To make someone feel afraid or frightened by suddenly appearing or behaving in a threatening way.

Synonyms

alarm, scare, startle, terrify

Examples of usage

  • He jumped out from behind the bushes to frighten her.
  • The loud noise frightened the children.
  • She was frightened by the sudden darkness.
Context #2 | Verb

intimidate

To make someone feel nervous or frightened, especially because you threaten them or make them believe you are very powerful.

Synonyms

bully, coerce, daunt, intimidate

Examples of usage

  • He used to frighten his classmates into giving him their lunch money.
  • Don't let them frighten you into signing anything.
Context #3 | Noun

emotion

A sudden intense feeling of fear.

Synonyms

dread, fear, panic, terror

Examples of usage

  • She screamed in fright when she saw the spider.
  • Their eyes widened in fright as they heard the noise.

Translations

Translations of the word "frighten" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น assustar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคกเคฐเคพเคจเคพ (แธarฤnฤ)

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช erschrecken

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menakuti

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะปัะบะฐั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ przestraszyฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ€–ใŒใ‚‰ใ›ใ‚‹ (kowagaraseru)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท effrayer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ asustar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท korkutmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋†€๋ผ๊ฒŒ ํ•˜๋‹ค (nollage hada)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠุฎูŠู (yukhif)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vystraลกit

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vystraลกiลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆƒŠๅ“ (jฤซngxiร )

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ prestraลกiti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hrรฆรฐa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะพั€า›ั‹ั‚ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒจแƒ”แƒจแƒ˜แƒœแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ (sheshineba)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qorxutmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ asustar

Etymology

The word 'frighten' originated from the Old English word 'afyrhtan', which means 'frighten, terrify'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. The concept of frightening someone has been a part of human nature since ancient times, as a way to survive in the face of danger.

See also: fright, frightened, frightening, frightful, frightfully.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,105, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.