afraid

[ uh-freyd ]

adjective

1. feeling fear; filled with apprehension:

   afraid to go.

   Synonyms: timorous, timid, apprehensive, fearful, scared

   Antonyms: fearless, confident, bold

2. feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like:

   I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.

3. feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like:

   He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.

afraid

/ əˈfreɪd /

adjective

1. often foll by of feeling fear or apprehension; frightened

   he was afraid of cats

2. reluctant (to do something), as through fear or timidity

   he was afraid to let himself go

3. often foll bythat; used to lessen the effect of an unpleasant statement regretful

   I'm afraid that I shall have to tell you to go

Other Words From

• half-a·fraid adjective
• una·fraid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

Variant spelling of affrayed, past participle of affray to disturb, frighten

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

C14: affraied, past participle of affray (to frighten)

Synonym Study

Afraid, alarmed, frightened, terrified all indicate a state of fear. Afraid implies inner apprehensive disquiet: afraid of the dark. Alarmed implies that the feelings are aroused through realization of some imminent or unexpected danger to oneself or others: alarmed by (or about ) someone's illness. Frightened means shocked with sudden, but usually short-lived, fear, especially that arising from apprehension of physical harm: frightened by an accident. Terrified suggests the emotional reaction when one is struck with a violent, overwhelming fear: terrified by an earthquake.

Example Sentences

Gareth was hot on that and not afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players.

From BBC

"Lukashenko is afraid right now to make any big moves and changes before his sham election - his self-reappointment. Just showing Maria doesn't threaten him, but he wants to show it as a big gesture of humanity - which it's not of course," Mr Viacorka believes.

From BBC

Some patients have even reported struggling to access routine healthcare from doctors who are afraid that treating trans patients could lead to consequences, said Andrea Segovia, the policy director of Transgender Education Network of Texas.

From Salon

Early in the film, you hear someone saying they’ve lived in Mumbai for 23 years and they’re still afraid to call it home.

From Los Angeles Times

Marx: And we’ve been afraid to try ever since.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxious
• apprehensive
• frightened
• nervous
• scared
• shocked
• suspicious
• timid