afraid
/əˈfreɪd/adjective★Beginner— feeling fear or anxiety
general
Experiencing fear or apprehension about something
He was afraid to speak in public.
He felt nervous about speaking to a crowd.
The children were afraid of the thunderstorm.
The children felt scared during the loud storm.
💡
Commonly used to describe emotional reactions to perceived threats or uncertainties.
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'afraid' to describe a general feeling of fear, while 'scared' is often more intense.
⚡Gold Rule
Preposition Choice
'Afraid' is typically followed by 'of' when specifying the source of fear.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'afrayed', past participle of 'afrayen' (to frighten), from Old French 'esfreer' (to terrify), from Latin 'ex-' (out) + 'fridus' (peaceful).
📝Usage Notes
Often used with 'of' to specify the source of fear. Can also be used in the phrase 'not afraid to' to indicate courage.
Word Breakdown
a-
on, in
prefixfraid
fear
rootEnglish Dictionary