dread

[ dred ]

verb (used with object)

1. to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of:

   to dread death.

   Antonyms: welcome

2. to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience:

   I dread going to big parties.

3. Archaic. to hold in respectful awe.

verb (used without object)

1. to be in great fear.

noun

1. terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.
2. a person or thing dreaded.
3. dreads, Informal. dreadlocks.
4. Informal. a person who wears dreadlocks.
5. Archaic. deep awe or reverence.

adjective

1. greatly feared; frightful; terrible.

   Synonyms: horrible, dreadful, dire

2. held in awe or reverential fear.

dread

/ drɛd /

verb

1. to anticipate with apprehension or terror
2. to fear greatly
3. archaic.
   to be in awe of

noun

1. great fear; horror
2. an object of terror
3. slang.
   a Rastafarian
4. archaic.
   deep reverence

adjective

1. literary.
   awesome; awe-inspiring

Other Word Forms

• dread·a·ble adjective
• dread·ness noun
• pre·dread noun verb (used with object)
• un·dread·ed adjective
• un·dread·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dread¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English dreden (verb), Old English drǣdan, aphetic variant of adrǣdan, ondrǣdan; cognate with Old High German intrātan “to fear”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dread¹

Old English ondrǣdan; related to Old Saxon antdrādan, Old High German intrātan

Synonym Study

See fear.

Example Sentences

Today’s tax filing deadline is usually a dreaded experience for taxpayers who have to dole out a big chunk of dough to the government.

From Los Angeles Times

This book is brutal and unsparing in its portrayal of its characters, with the growing dread palpable as the book drives forward, even as it’s incredibly big-hearted and leaves you emotionally eviscerated by the end.

From Los Angeles Times

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve also provides some hope in this global era of crisis, great anxiety and dread.

From Salon

A 24-year-old car cloning victim has told how he ended up dreading the morning post after fines demanding thousands of pounds started to pour through his letterbox.

From BBC

Somehow, though, when you’re not even looking, existential dread finds its way in.

From Los Angeles Times