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afraid

[uh-freyd]

Example Sentences Origin

adjective

feeling fear; filled with apprehension: afraid to go.

feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like: I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.

feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like: He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.

Origin:
variant spelling of affrayed, past participle of affray to disturb, frighten

Related forms

half-a·fraid, adjective

un·a·fraid, adjective

Synonyms
1. scared, fearful, disquieted, apprehensive, timid, timorous. 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.

Antonyms
1. bold, confident, fearless.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To afraid

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Afraid is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

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Example Sentences

She and her fearful fellows may have good reason to be afraid.

They are afraid of hawks but if the hawk doesn't move, they'll catch on quick.

At some point, the overworked and the unemployed are likely to be more angry than afraid.

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She and her fearful fellows may have good reason to be afraid.

They are afraid of hawks but if the hawk doesn't move, they'll catch on quick.

At some point, the overworked and the unemployed are likely to be more angry than afraid.

For example, if he is afraid of swimming, teach him how fun it is to play in the water.

And they have to be more afraid of those consequences than of allowing someone different to flourish in their midst.

Afraid that he would freeze to death, he decided to memorialize himself on the gun.

You're looking for an adrenaline rush-and are not afraid to sweat for it more.

Children are afraid of shots, but their parents are supposed to know better.

Back then, the state was not afraid to take its fair share of corporate profits to pay for higher education.

But don't be afraid to handhold at slow shutter speeds-the serendipitous effects can be wonderful.

Your guys are afraid to even debate the scientists on the other side http://icecapus/indexphp/go/political-climate.

Predators have to be managed and made afraid of humans to keep them at a safe distance.

Don't be afraid to introduce bright red to a traditional home.

Japanese scientists have designed mice that aren't afraid of cats.

Don't be afraid to ask for a delay that will give you time to be composed.

Londoners are quick to offer directions to visitors, so don't be afraid to ask.

Many people are more afraid of being abducted by space aliens than of getting in a fatal wreck on the highway.

As they stepped over the corpses of those who didn't make it, they became afraid they themselves would die.

Maybe it's a tricycle for people who are afraid to ride motorcycles.

Some pups acted afraid when they heard growls, whines, or barks.

He also wasn't afraid to play cowboy with these former test pilots.

As you mentioned, the wildlife is amazing and not afraid of humans.

We have no idea how to price this, and that makes us afraid.

No wonder they were more irritated than afraid of me.

We don't believe that people should live in bubbles, afraid to interact with the outside world.

Are they afraid it will cause them even more problems.

Big and wise as the elephant is, he is afraid of one animal.

She's afraid of the sea, therefore it remains alone on the beach.

Why is the government afraid to tell us that billions are going to starve.

Woese's specialty is bacteria, and he's not afraid of bold theories that turn conventional scientific wisdom on its head.

They are always on the go because their father is afraid that those chasing them will use his invention for evil purposes.

And there's really only one reason to censor a swear word: if you're afraid the person's not as cool as you.

In this picture in particular, the sheep was neither afraid of me, nor my long camera lens.

Those who are afraid of spiders may be disturbed to know they may not be safe from them, even in the water.

But this octopus ain't afraid of being caught in a tight space.

The girl was afraid of retaliation by her attacker, and she has not yet filed a police report.

After this year's election, politicians should be far less afraid and far more willing to vote for sensible gun-control laws.

Be aware that you are afraid for a reason, but then behave as if you were not afraid.

Some health activists are so afraid of the impact that a certain red-haired clown has on children that they want him to retire.

There are so many fearful things that happen, so much uncertainty, but they are never afraid.

The hosts aren't afraid to ask probing questions and challenge the status quo.

Everything you wanted to know about stem cells, cloning and genetic engineering but were afraid to.

You're looking for an adrenaline rush-and are not afraid to sweat for it.

They weren't afraid to unsettle the students, and they weren't so concerned with whether the students liked them.

Alone, she would secretly practise the things she was afraid of doing-climbing trees, going high on swings.

When good and honest citizens become afraid of the lawthis is when you know the law has gone out of hand.

Police were afraid to enter many areas as street gangs and guerrilla and paramilitary groups fought for control of neighborhoods.

Another was don't be afraid to hit the ball on the ground.

Others have received death threats and are now afraid to speak out.

But the message in this picture is that the cat may be longing for home or afraid to go home.

The experimenter has learned that infants are afraid of falling down chasms.

She didn't because she was afraid of reprisals from the professor.

Denial is common at the hospital because patients are often afraid they will receive lesser care for self-inflicted.

Khosla is afraid that that governments will incentivize less efficient solutions, to the detriment of better solutions.

To me it signifies that one is afraid to come out as even a doubter.

But beyond all of that, he was afraid of losing his tenure-track job.

Don't be afraid to try the same shot over and over until you get it right.

It is unfortunate that people are afraid of irradiated food.

When the attacks occurred, he had stayed behind to help a coworker who was too afraid to leave the towering building.

If you're afraid of predators, do not trust so called friends that you have never met.

Throws paint on a canvas and doesn't afraid of anything.

Kac believes the scientists were simply afraid of public criticism.

If you aren't afraid of technology, many libraries are creating digital collections.

Vultures learn not to be afraid of humans, she said.

Two days later he had a full blown psychotic episode, afraid of everyone and everything.

The industry's leaders are not cowards, though maybe they should be afraid.

Maybe some of them are afraid to admit what they're doing due to shame or fear of judgement.

Don't be afraid to stand up and talk to others about your moral values in a friendly conversation.

They were little bit afraid what was going to happen to them.

Don't be afraid of some cheaper cuts such as the flank, tri-tip, or flat iron.

On such short notice, the college's officials were afraid they would not be able to fill the position.

The chief of police has a memorable way of demonstrating that he's not afraid of the drug smugglers.

She was afraid of having a stroke, something that she said that was becoming more and more frequent after flying.

Some customers, especially older ones, aren't stopping by because they're afraid to cross the large traffic circle.

It's not about showing people up that they are afraid of.

They're not afraid to travel with their iPods or splurge on lodging.

No sense in anyone being afraid to blink in order to thwart a tidal wave.

The authors speculate that humans may be afraid of the dark because this situation has long been true.

Tell the herring that, since they're afraid of or confused by the bubbles, they can't move through them.

But there is little reason to be afraid of all snakes.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

afraid (əˈfreɪd)

—*adj* (often foll by that; used to lessen the effect of an unpleasant statement)
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.	regretful: I'm afraid that I shall have to tell you to go

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

afraid

early 14c., originally pp. of afray "frighten," from Anglo-Fr. afrayer, from O.Fr. esfreer (see affray (n.)). A rare case of an English adjective that never stands before a noun. Because it was used in A.V. Bible, it acquired independent standing and thrived while affray

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faded, chasing out the once more common afeard (q.v.). Sense in I'm afraid "I regret to say, I suspect" (without implication of fear) is first recorded 1590s.

"Her blue affrayed eyes wide open shone" [Keats, "The Eve of St. Agnes," 1820]

COLLAPSE

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"If you wake up dead in the morning, your body drained dry of blood, you'll be afraid of the dark."

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