dread
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of.
to dread death.
- Antonyms:
- welcome
-
to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience.
I dread going to big parties.
-
Archaic. to hold in respectful awe.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.
-
a person or thing dreaded.
-
Informal. dreads, dreadlocks.
-
Informal. a person who wears dreadlocks.
-
Archaic. deep awe or reverence.
verb
-
to anticipate with apprehension or terror
-
to fear greatly
-
archaic to be in awe of
noun
-
great fear; horror
-
an object of terror
-
slang a Rastafarian
-
archaic deep reverence
adjective
Synonym Usage
See fear.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have dreadedperfect
-
has dreadedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been dreadingperfect progressive
-
has been dreadingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is dreadingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are dreadingprogressive
-
am dreadingprogressive 1st person singular
-
dreadssingular 3rd person
-
dreadingparticiple
Past
-
had dreadedperfect
-
were dreadingprogressive plural
-
had been dreadingperfect progressive
-
was dreadingprogressive singular
-
dreadedsimple
-
dreadedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of dread
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English dreden (verb), Old English drǣdan, aphetic variant of adrǣdan, ondrǣdan; cognate with Old High German intrātan “to fear”
Explanation
The noun dread describes the fear of something bad happening, like the dread you feel when walking alone on a deserted street in the dark. Dread is a feeling of fear, but it can also be the desire to avoid something. For example, many people feel dread at the very thought of speaking in front of an audience. As a verb, dread means "to fear or not want something to happen," like students who did not study and as a result, dread getting their graded tests back. As an adjective, dread means "frightening or terrifying," like a dread monster.
Vocabulary lists containing dread
The Grim Reader: Wicked Words of Grave Importance for Halloween
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Uncanny, Creepy, or Downright Scary: Words For Halloween
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While DarkMatter took over DREAD, the program was a tightly held secret, with even some company executives unaware of its existence, said six people with direct knowledge of the matter.
From Reuters • Dec. 10, 2019
For years before the creation of DREAD, Clarke grappled with the need for domestic surveillance in the United States, as well as its potential dangers.
From Reuters • Dec. 10, 2019
The secret unit Clarke helped create had an ominous acronym: DREAD, short for Development Research Exploitation and Analysis Department.
From Reuters • Dec. 10, 2019
The hacking requests from UAE security forces to the new unit accelerated after Christmas 2009, just one year after Good Harbor started on DREAD.
From Reuters • Dec. 10, 2019
By the end of 2010, Good Harbor stepped back from DREAD, leaving control in the hands of SRA vice president Gumtow, program documents show.
From Reuters • Dec. 10, 2019
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
