fear
noun
a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
had feared
-
past perfectof fear.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Stocks have also weathered the rise in rates better than many had feared, with corporate profits holding up and the AI trade intact.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Many had feared prices double that as the global energy market’s worst-case scenario — an essentially closed Strait of Hormuz — has now been playing out for nearly 100 days.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 6, 2026
American consumers had their strongest month of spending in eight months in February, new data showed Wednesday, a sign that the economy was healthier than many analysts had feared.
From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026
Then he got a call with news he had feared.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026
The first day’s march was less difficult than Taran had feared.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
