dread
verb (used with object)
to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of.
dreaded
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past participleof dread.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof dread.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
dreadverb (used with object)to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of.
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.
Those concerned about safety have long dreaded the day when AI systems themselves are capable of building the next generation of much smarter AI systems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "We'll start getting rid of the dreaded 'ironing board seats' so passengers can enjoy comfier, more pleasant journeys on some of Britain's busiest commuter routes."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
But they wake up on race day with the dreaded red signal on their watch telling them they haven’t fully recovered from a shake-out run the day before.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
The five words every baseball soul outside of Los Angeles dreaded hearing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
Like a dark and dreaded presence, hovering at the edge of their happy vacation.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
