dread

[dred]

verb (used with object)

1. to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of.

   to dread death.

   Antonyms: welcome

2. to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience.

   I dread going to big parties.

3. Archaic.,  to hold in respectful awe.

verb (used without object)

1. to be in great fear.

noun

1. terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.

2. a person or thing dreaded.

3. Informal.,  dreads, dreadlocks.

4. Informal.,  a person who wears dreadlocks.

5. Archaic.,  deep awe or reverence.

adjective

1. greatly feared; frightful; terrible.

   Synonyms: horrible, dreadful, dire

2. held in awe or reverential fear.

dread

/ drɛd /

verb

1. to anticipate with apprehension or terror

2. to fear greatly

3. archaic,  to be in awe of

noun

1. great fear; horror

2. an object of terror

3. slang,  a Rastafarian

4. archaic,  deep reverence

adjective

1. literary,  awesome; awe-inspiring

Other Word Forms

• dreadable adjective
• dreadness noun
• predread noun
• undreaded adjective
• undreading adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dread¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dread¹

Old English ondrǣdan; related to Old Saxon antdrādan, Old High German intrātan

Synonym Study

See fear.

Example Sentences

The first two contestants faced the dreaded Strictly dance-off on Sunday night to decide their fate.

Read more on BBC

While watching the cruelty unfold outside the house, where neighbours or passers-by could have easily seen, it left her dreading what horrors were happening behind closed doors.

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Leonberg utilized two lighting skills to plays capturing both Indy’s natural beauty and his expressions, which convey his growing feelings of dread.

Read more on Salon

Perhaps just as important, he lasted 91 pitches, allowing Roberts to stay out of the dreaded bullpen as long as humanely possible.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is a prospect many in Berry Creek dread, which Connelly said he is well aware of.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apprehension 
• awe 
• consternation 
• dismay 
• horror 
• panic 
• phobia 
• terror 
• trepidation