afraid
/əˈfreɪd/adjective★Beginner
informal
Feeling fear or anxiety about something that might happen
She was afraid of the dark.
He is afraid to speak in public.
💡
Often used with 'of' to specify the source of fear.
Collocations
afraid ofUsed to express fear about something specificnot afraid toUsed to express a lack of fear in doing something
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
not afraid tophrase
Not hesitant or fearful about doing something
💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Afraid' is often followed by 'of' to specify the cause of fear, e.g., 'afraid of spiders.'
⚡Gold Rule
Correct Usage
Use 'afraid' to describe a feeling of fear, not to describe an object or situation as frightening.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'afrayed,' past participle of 'afrayen' (to frighten), from Old French 'esfreer,' from Latin 'ex-' (out) + 'fridus' (peaceful).
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used to describe a feeling of fear or apprehension. Often followed by 'of' or 'to' in constructions.
Word Breakdown
afraid
Feeling fear or anxiety
rootEnglish Dictionary