# terrified

/ˈtɛɹəˌfaɪd/ (US) · /tˈɛɹɪfˌaɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. to have filled with terror

verb · CEFR B2

the past tense of 'terrify', meaning you made someone feel very scared.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'terrify', meaning to fill someone with intense fear.

- The loud thunder terrified the small children during the night.
- The sudden collapse of the stock market terrified investors, leading to a massive sell-off of assets across the globe.

Usage: As a verb, it requires a direct object (the person being scared).

## Examples

- The little boy was terrified of the dark.
- She was terrified that she would miss her flight after the train broke down.
- The hikers stood perfectly still, terrified that any sudden movement might provoke the bear watching them from the edge of the clearing.

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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.