26984 words

fear

10 definitions • 21 examples
1
an unpleasant emotion or thought that you have when you are frightened or worried by something dangerous, painful, or bad that is happening or might happen:

Examples:

Trembling with fear, she handed over the money to the gunman.
Even when the waves grew big, the boy showed no (signs of) fear.
a fear of I have a fear of heights.
[ + that ] There are fears that the disease will spread to other countries.
2
to be frightened that you might be killed:

Examples:

Lakisha sat inside, in fear of her life, until the police came.
3
to be no possibility that a particular thing will happen:

Examples:

Greta knows the city well, so there's no fear of us getting lost (= we will not get lost).
4
because you are worried that a particular thing might happen:

Examples:

They wouldn't let their cat outside for fear that it would get run over.
5
to be frightened of something or someone unpleasant:

Examples:

What do you fear most?
6
to be worried or frightened that something bad might happen or might have happened:

Examples:

[ + (that) ] Police fear (that) the couple may have drowned.
it is feared that formal It is feared that as many as two hundred passengers may have died in the crash.
it is feared He is, it is feared, at risk of torture if he is sent back to his homeland.
We huddled together, fearing we might be killed.
[ + to infinitive ] Fearing to go herself, she sent her son to find out the news.
7
used to give someone news of something bad that has happened or might happen:

Examples:

[ + (that) ] I fear (that) she's already left.
8
a strong emotion caused by great worry about something dangerous, painful, or unknown that is happening or might happen:

Examples:

[ U ] Even when the boat was rocked by waves, the boy showed no fear.
[ U ] She stood very still for fear of (= because she was worried about) being noticed.
9
to be frightened about someone or something unpleasant:

Examples:

[ I ] The cab driver was going so fast, I feared for our safety.
10
To fear is also to be worried or upset:

Examples:

[ + that clause ] They fear that Congress may not allocate the money needed.

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