fear
a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.
concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
reverential awe, especially toward God: the fear of God.
something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension; something a person is afraid of: Cancer is a common fear.
anticipation of the possibility that something unpleasant will occur: Having grown up during the Great Depression, he had a constant fear of running out of money.
to regard with fear; be afraid of.
to have reverential awe of.
to consider or anticipate (something unpleasant) with a feeling of dread or alarm: It's about to snow again, I fear.
Archaic. to experience fear in (oneself): I fear me he will ne'er forgive us.
to have fear; be afraid: I'll go with you, so do not fear!
to feel apprehensive or uneasy (usually followed by for): In this time of economic instability, I fear for my children's future.
Idioms about fear
for fear of / that, in order to prevent or avoid the risk of: She is afraid to say anything for fear of the consequences.
put the fear of God in / into, to cause to be greatly afraid.
Origin of fear
1synonym study For fear
popular references For fear
— Fear and Trembling: A philosophical exploration of faith and ethics by Sören Kierkegaard. Published in 1843 under the pseudonym Johannes de Silentio.
— Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream: A roman à clef by gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, illustrated by Ralph Steadman. First printed in 1971 as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine, and as a novel in 1972.
— Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A film adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson book, directed by Terry Gilliam. Released in 1998.
— The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things: 1999 book by sociologist Barry Glassner, examining why Americans' fears are misplaced and exaggerated. Revised and updated in 2010.
— Fear Factor: An American reality game show (2001–2006) in which contestants had to complete a series of dangerous, disgusting, or otherwise fear-inducing stunts.
—No FEAR Act: The Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–174). The act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002, increases Federal agency accountability for acts of discrimination or reprisal against employees.
Other words for fear
Opposites for fear
Other words from fear
- self-fearing, adjective
- un·fear·ing, adjective
Other definitions for Fear (2 of 2)
a river in SE North Carolina. 202 miles (325 km) long.
Cape, a cape at its mouth.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use fear in a sentence
Cold War fears could be manipulated through misleading art to attract readers to daunting material.
Antoine, a 40-year-old DJ who works at the airport, says he fears for his children if the police stop doing their jobs.
He does not hesitate to hide some Marxist books from her library because she fears that the military could use them against her.
I was briefly scared into eating regularly, but all too soon, the fears fade and my old habits return.
Nerney fears that Foerster has otherwise been largely forgotten except by his family and fellow cops.
In passing to her own chamber she met the Emperor, and, in the agitation of her maternal fears, told him all that had passed.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter"I verily believe they're gone to look at my button," cried Davy, beginning to laugh, in spite of his fears.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylBefore he faced Lettice, he must forget a moment—forget his fears, his hopes, his ceaseless torment of belief and doubt.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodBut mindful of her fears, he dispatched one of the troopers to stand sentry outside her door whilst he and his lackey supped.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniFull of fears, anxiety, and mistrust, it was a very dispirited Rabecque that now slowly followed Monsieur Gaubert into the inn.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
British Dictionary definitions for fear
/ (fɪə) /
a feeling of distress, apprehension, or alarm caused by impending danger, pain, etc
a cause of this feeling
awe; reverence: fear of God
concern; anxiety
possibility; chance: there is no fear of that happening
for fear of, for fear that or for fear lest to forestall or avoid
no fear certainly not
put the fear of God into to frighten
to be afraid (to do something) or of (a person or thing); dread
(tr) to revere; respect
(tr; takes a clause as object) to be sorry: used to lessen the effect of an unpleasant statement: I fear that you have not won
(intr foll by for) to feel anxiety about something
an archaic word for frighten
Origin of fear
1Derived forms of fear
- fearer, noun
- fearless, adjective
- fearlessly, adverb
- fearlessness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with fear
see fools rush in where angels fear to tread; for fear of; never fear; put the fear of god in.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse