# frightened

/ˈfɹaɪtənd/ (US) · /fɹˈaɪtənd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/frightened
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. feeling fear

adjective · CEFR A2

feeling fear or worry because you think something bad might happen.

For teachers: experiencing fear or anxiety; often used to describe a temporary state caused by a specific event or object.

- The little boy was frightened of the loud thunder during the storm.
- Frightened by the sudden movement in the shadows, the hikers decided to turn back toward the safety of the campsite.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' or 'by'.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse '-ed' and '-ing' adjectives; remind them that 'frightened' is the internal feeling.

## Examples

- The loud thunder made the children feel frightened.
- She was too frightened to walk through the dark park alone at night.
- Frightened by the sudden drop in the stock market, many small investors sold their shares immediately, fearing a total economic collapse.

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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.