scared
/skɛrd/feeling fear or anxiety due to a perceived threat or danger
She was scared to walk home alone at night.
She felt afraid to walk home alone at night.
The child was scared of the dark.
The child felt frightened by the dark.
Often used to describe a temporary or situational fear.
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💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Scared' is often used in everyday language to describe a temporary or situational fear, such as being scared of spiders or scared of the dark.
⚡Gold Rule
Adjective vs. Verb
'Scared' is an adjective, not a verb. To express the action of frightening someone, use 'scare' (e.g., 'The noise scared the cat').
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'scared', past participle of 'scaren' (to frighten), of uncertain origin.
📝Usage Notes
Often used in informal contexts to describe a mild to moderate level of fear. Can be used as an adjective or past participle.