afraid

[ uh-freyd ]

/ əˈfreɪd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR afraid ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

feeling fear; filled with apprehension: afraid to go.

feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like: I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.

feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like: He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.

Nearby words

Origin of afraid

variant spelling of affrayed, past participle of affray to disturb, frighten

SYNONYMS FOR afraid

1. scared, fearful, disquieted, apprehensive, timid, timorous.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR afraid ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR afraid

1. bold, confident, fearless.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR afraid ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formshalf-a·fraid, adjectiveun·a·fraid, adjective

Synonym study

1. Afraid, alarmed, frightened, terrified all indicate a state of fear. Afraid implies inner apprehensive disquiet: afraid of the dark. Alarmed implies that the feelings are aroused through realization of some imminent or unexpected danger to oneself or others: alarmed by (or about ) someone's illness. Frightened means shocked with sudden, but usually short-lived, fear, especially that arising from apprehension of physical harm: frightened by an accident. Terrified suggests the emotional reaction when one is struck with a violent, overwhelming fear: terrified by an earthquake.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for afraid

As soon as this attack [happened], Paris citizens came together to show were are not afraid, we are Charlie Hebdo.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But we are afraid and we wonder to ourselves who will be next.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Are you excited, nervous, afraid, all of the above for the new Star Wars films?
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire|William O’Connor|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Lynch was surely not afraid of showing disrespect to the mayor.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Afraid the Korean secret police would not believe his kidnapping story, Shin settled in Hollywood.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"You need not be afraid of that any more, Ronnie," his uncle told him calmly.
The Kingdom of the Blind|E. Phillips Oppenheim
He was afraid that when he looked over the hill he would see nothing.
When Buffalo Ran|George Bird Grinnell
I felt little alarm about the natives, but I was afraid that some prowling beast might attack him.
In the Wilds of Africa|W.H.G. Kingston
If they are afraid to let the boys come nearer than hailing distance, what'll be done when the mob get here?
Down the Slope|James Otis
No, darling, they are humbugging you, because they were afraid lest their plan should be known.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 6|Guy de Maupassant

British Dictionary definitions for afraid

afraid

/ (əˈfreɪd) /

adjective (postpositive)

(often foll by of) feeling fear or apprehension; frightenedhe was afraid of cats

reluctant (to do something), as through fear or timidityhe was afraid to let himself go

(often foll by that; used to lessen the effect of an unpleasant statement) regretfulI'm afraid that I shall have to tell you to go

Word Origin for afraid

C14: affraied, past participle of affray (to frighten)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for afraid

afraid

adj.

early 14c., originally past participle of afray "frighten," from Anglo-French afrayer, from Old French esfreer (see affray (n.)). A rare case of an English adjective that never stands before a noun. Because it was used in A.V. Bible, it acquired independent standing and thrived while affray faded, chasing out the once more common afeared. Sense in I'm afraid "I regret to say, I suspect" (without implication of fear) is first recorded 1590s.