# scared

/ˈskɛɹd/ (US) · /skˈeəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scared
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. feeling fear

adjective · CEFR A2

feeling afraid or worried that something bad will happen.

For teachers: experiencing fear, anxiety, or apprehension. Often used with 'of' or 'to'.

- The little boy was scared of the dark and always left a light on.
- Many investors are scared of a sudden market downturn, leading them to move their capital into more stable assets.

Usage: Commonly followed by 'of' + noun or 'to' + verb.

### 2. past tense of scare

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of 'scare', meaning you made someone feel afraid.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle form of the transitive verb 'scare'.

- The loud thunder scared the cat, and it hid under the sofa.
- The sudden drop in the aircraft's altitude scared the passengers, though the pilot quickly regained control and explained the turbulence.

## Examples

- The little boy is scared of the dark.
- She was too scared to walk home alone at night, so she called a taxi.
- Investors are increasingly scared that the sudden drop in consumer spending will lead to a prolonged economic recession.

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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.