# I’m afraid

idiom · CEFR A2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/im-afraid
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

A polite way to introduce bad news, a disagreement, or something you are sorry about. It doesn't usually mean you are scared.

## Examples

- I’m afraid I cannot come to your party tonight.
- I’m afraid the train is delayed, so we will arrive later than expected.
- I’m afraid that your current proposal does not meet the requirements of the project, so we must ask for a revision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.