scared

American  

[skaird] / skɛərd /

adjective

1. filled with fear, terror, or dread, often suddenly; frightened; alarmed.

   The doctor provided not only physical treatment but also moral guidance for scared patients with terminal diagnoses.

   I came into college as a scared freshman and left as a confident, competent adult.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of scare.

Other Word Forms

• unscared adjective

Etymology

Origin of scared

scare ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Have you ever gone into a dark room and heard something scurrying across the floor and felt your pulse quicken and your heart race? You were scared — afraid. When you are scared, you are frightened or alarmed. It can be a momentary thing: hearing a car screech outside your house and worrying that your dog just got hit. It can be longer: you might be scared for weeks or months after a medical diagnosis. While the verb is usually associated with a single person or small group, you might also apply it more generally: a fast-moving tornado could have scared a whole town.

Example Sentences

Pearl told the call handler: "I'm really, really scared."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

"I am scared of the war starting again, and at the same time I'm scared of the regime staying", Tehran resident Sheida told AFP, withholding her last name out of concern for her safety.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

“I’m scared, I’m scared,” the boy kept saying, as his sister tried to calm him, Halioua said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Just the opposite: They’re scared of the system.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

“Do you really want to shut him out because you’re scared about how things might end?” she asks.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• afraid
• anxious
• fearful
• panicked
• panicky
• startled