fright
Americannoun
-
sudden and extreme fear; a sudden terror.
- Synonyms:
- alarm, consternation, dismay
-
a person or thing of shocking, grotesque, or ridiculous appearance.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
sudden intense fear or alarm
-
a sudden alarming shock
-
informal a horrifying, grotesque, or ludicrous person or thing
she looks a fright in that hat
-
to become frightened
verb
Related Words
See terror.
Other Word Forms
- self-frighted adjective
- unfrighted adjective
Etymology
Origin of fright
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English frytu, fyrhto; akin to German Furcht
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.
The al-mirajes saw them, took fright, and vanished into the crowd.
From Literature
“Terribly sorry for the fright. I’m in a bit of a rush.”
From Literature
In traditional horror movies, fright is centered and dialogue is a backdrop.
From Los Angeles Times
Draping himself in ice towels during the changeovers, he suffered a fright in the third set with severe cramp that needed treatment.
From Barron's
Such a screech pierced the night, I felt a shiver of fright race up my shoulders.
From Literature
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.
