fright
Americannoun
-
sudden and extreme fear; a sudden terror.
- Synonyms:
- alarm, consternation, dismay
-
a person or thing of shocking, grotesque, or ridiculous appearance.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
sudden intense fear or alarm
-
a sudden alarming shock
-
informal a horrifying, grotesque, or ludicrous person or thing
she looks a fright in that hat
-
to become frightened
verb
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In traditional horror movies, fright is centered and dialogue is a backdrop.
From Los Angeles Times
Draping himself in ice towels during the changeovers, he suffered a fright in the third set with severe cramp that needed treatment.
From Barron's
Such a screech pierced the night, I felt a shiver of fright race up my shoulders.
From Literature
Additionally, in October, Highline hosts “fright flights” where guests can also zip line at night.
From Los Angeles Times
But its stock tumbled as investors took fright at heavy spending on its Base44 AI-coding product and its effect on operating cash flow.
From Barron's
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.
