feared

4 definitions • 8 examples

past simple and past participle of

to be frightened of something or someone unpleasant:

Most older employees fear unemployment.

What do you fear most?

to be worried or frightened that something bad might happen or might have happened:

[ + (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.

used to give someone news of something bad that has happened or might happen:

[ + (that) ] I fear (that) she's already left.