fright

American  

[frahyt] / fraɪt /

noun

1. sudden and extreme fear; a sudden terror.

   Synonyms:

   alarm, consternation, dismay

2. a person or thing of shocking, grotesque, or ridiculous appearance.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to frighten.

fright British  

/ fraɪt /

noun

1. sudden intense fear or alarm

2. a sudden alarming shock

3. informal a horrifying, grotesque, or ludicrous person or thing

   she looks a fright in that hat

4. to become frightened

---

verb

1. a poetic word for frighten

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

In the single-voice readings, you must imagine the shrieking, which goes on even after Harry has slammed the book shut in fright.

From The Wall Street Journal

For much of the first half, they were second best to a Hibs side who came flying out the traps before taking fright at the sight of the final third.

From BBC

Paralyzed with fright, she lay facedown on her cot, moaning into the pillow.

From Literature

Lady Constance laughed at the poor girl’s fright, which was really not a very nice thing to do.

From Literature

Here, she discusses the jazz warm-up she’s used for decades, dealing with stage fright and loving the divas she plays.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• consternation
• dismay
• horror
• panic
• trepidation