afraid
Americanadjective
-
feeling fear; filled with apprehension.
afraid to go.
- Synonyms:
- timorous, timid, apprehensive, fearful, scared
-
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.
adjective
-
(often foll by of) feeling fear or apprehension; frightened
he was afraid of cats
-
reluctant (to do something), as through fear or timidity
he was afraid to let himself go
-
regretful
I'm afraid that I shall have to tell you to go
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of afraid
Variant spelling of affrayed, past participle of affray to disturb, frighten
Explanation
To be afraid is to be scared. People are afraid of snakes, bugs, heights, bears, death, and public speaking, among other things. Being afraid means you have a fear of something — and people are afraid of all sorts of things, from guns to ghosts to being in arguments. People also say, "I'm afraid I have some bad news," which doesn't mean they're afraid of the news, but sorry that they have to share it. It's a similar situation for the saying "I'm afraid so," which is a nice way of saying "I'm sorry, but the answer is yes."
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.
There are no statistics to represent those new mothers who do not think, or are afraid, to describe their mental state.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Many Flores inhabitants slept outside for a second night in a row, afraid to go home as hundreds of aftershocks rumbled through the area.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
“But we’re always a little afraid when people talk about development because we don’t know where it’s going to stop.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Hunt has never been afraid to choose the hard path.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
She spoke in a low voice, as if she were afraid that Mom and Dad might hear her from downstairs.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
