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be scared
/bi skɛərd/
feel fear
I was scared when I heard the loud noise outside.
The speaker expresses fear due to an unexpected loud sound.
informal
to experience fear or anxiety about something
She is scared of spiders.
She feels fear when seeing spiders.
Are you scared to try the roller coaster?
Do you feel fear about attempting the roller coaster?
Commonly used in everyday speech to describe fear of specific things or situations. Often followed by 'of' + noun or 'to' + verb.
Collocations
be scared ofto fear something specificbe scared toto hesitate due to fearbe scared thatto worry that something bad may happen
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common mistake: 'scare' vs 'scared'
Remember that 'scare' is the verb ('It scared me'), while 'scared' is the adjective ('I am scared').
Gold Rule
Usage with prepositions
Use 'of' for specific fears ('scared of the dark'), 'to' for actions ('scared to speak'), and 'that' for worries ('scared that it will rain').
Word Origin
The phrase combines the verb 'be' (Old English 'bēon') with 'scared' (past participle of 'scare', from Middle English 'skeren', meaning 'to frighten', derived from Old Norse 'skirra'). The phrase has been used in English since at least the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Used to describe temporary or situational fear. More common in speech than formal writing. Often used in questions ('Are you scared?') or negative statements ('I'm not scared').
Word Breakdown
be
auxiliary verb indicating state
verbscared
past participle of 'scare', meaning 'frightened'
adjectiveEnglish Dictionary