fear
/fɪə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A feeling of being afraid that something bad may happen. It can be about real danger or imagined danger.
- She felt fear before the exam.
- Fear kept him awake all night.
verb
To feel afraid of someone or something, or to worry that something bad may happen.
- Many people fear failure.
- She feared the worst after the call.
Adinary Nuance
Fear is stronger and more direct than worry. We use fear when danger feels real, serious, or emotional. Anxiety is more about ongoing nervousness, while terror is much stronger and more extreme.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nỗi sợ
- Spanish
- miedo
- Chinese
- 恐惧
- Japanese
- 恐れ
- Korean
- 두려움
Etymology
Old English fear, meaning danger, sudden attack, or dread. It has been used in English since before the 12th century.
Common phrases
fear of failurefear for the futureliving in feargripped by fear
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is fear a noun or a verb?
- It can be both. As a noun, it means the feeling of being afraid. As a verb, it means to be afraid of something.
- What is the difference between fear and worry?
- Fear is usually stronger and more immediate. Worry is often about possible problems, while fear can feel like danger now.
- Is fear formal or informal?
- It is a common everyday word. It also appears often in academic and IELTS writing.
- How do I use fear in a sentence?
- You can say, 'I fear losing my job' or 'She felt fear in the dark.'