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.
was fearing
-
past progressiveof fear.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“That element is to encapsulate that Stagg was fearing for his wife. As he walks down this corridor, he is faced with: Is she alive? Is she dead?”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
“I was fearing for my life,” Ross said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds was fearing the worst as Brugge's second hit the back of the net.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2025
Store owner Jennifer Strobel tried and failed to deter the deer from entering, and was fearing the worst.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 29, 2023
I concluded that he was fearing me, just as I was fearing him.
From Who Goes There? by Blackwood Ketcham Benson
