Word
fear
Phoneticsfear
US/ˈfɪɹ/
UK/fˈiə/
Definitions
01the feeling of being afraid
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. the unpleasant feeling you have when you think something dangerous or painful might happen.
n. an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
“The little boy tried to hide his fear of the dark by leaving a small lamp on.”
“The sudden turbulence in the cabin caused a wave of fear to sweep through the passengers, many of whom began to pray silently.”
02a specific phobia
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a specific thing that makes you feel afraid.
n. a specific instance or type of phobia; a particular thing that causes an individual to feel afraid.
“One of her biggest fears is spiders, so she never goes into the basement.”
“The therapist worked with the patient to confront his deep-seated fears regarding public speaking and social rejection.”
03anxiety after drinking
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun British English · Informal · Slang
n. a feeling of worry or regret the morning after drinking too much alcohol.
n. a state of acute anxiety or existential dread experienced during a hangover, often involving worry about one's behavior while intoxicated.
“He woke up with a headache and a terrible case of the fear after the office party.”
“Waking up with the fear, she spent the entire morning checking her sent messages to ensure she hadn't offended anyone the night before.”
Synonyms
04to be afraid of
A2 · Elementary
v. to be afraid of someone or something.
v. to be afraid of someone or something as a likely cause of danger or pain; to regard with apprehension.
“Many people fear snakes even if they have never seen one in real life.”
“The local residents fear that the new highway construction will destroy the quiet character of their historic neighborhood.”
05to worry about a result
B1 · Intermediate
v. to worry that something bad will happen or is true.
v. to anticipate a negative outcome with concern or anxiety; often used to introduce bad news politely.
“I fear that we will be late for the movie if we don't leave now.”
“The doctor told the family that he feared the treatment was no longer having the desired effect on the patient's condition.”
06to show deep respect
C1 · Advanced Religion Formal · Literary
v. to have great respect and a little bit of fear for a powerful being, like a god.
v. to feel reverence or awe toward a deity or a person of great authority.
“The ancient text tells the followers to fear their creator and follow the laws.”
“In many traditional cultures, to fear the king was considered a necessary component of civic duty and social order.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general emotion; countable when referring to a specific phobia or instance ('a fear of heights').
Pitfall
I have fear to spiders
I have a fear of spiders
When describing a specific phobia, use the preposition 'of' followed by a noun, rather than 'to' with an infinitive.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/fear