afraid

\ ə-ˈfrād

How to pronounce afraid (audio)

, Southern also ə-ˈfred \

Definition of afraid

1 : filled with fear or apprehension afraid of machines was afraid for his job

2 : filled with concern or regret over an unwanted situation I'm afraid I won't be able to go.

3 : having a dislike for something She's not afraid of hard work. [=she's not unwilling to work hard]

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about afraid

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Choose the Right Synonym for afraid

fearful, apprehensive, afraid mean disturbed by fear. fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament. the child is fearful of loud noises apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger. apprehensive of being found out afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance. afraid to speak the truth

Examples of afraid in a Sentence

Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago.

Recent Examples on the Web Green Garlic Prosciutto Toast For those that aren’t afraid of flavor, this Green Garlic Prosciutto Toast recipe is right up your alley. — Drake Wilson, Sunset Magazine, "The Recipes You Should Be Cooking This February," 10 Feb. 2020 What kind of man is afraid of being naked in private? — Abigail Van Buren, Houston Chronicle, "Fabulous first date leads to loveless marriage trap," 8 Feb. 2020 My major takeaway is to not be afraid of fat biking. — Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, "Want to try fat biking but feeling timid about it? Here are some tips.," 8 Feb. 2020 To put it bluntly, Gaby is not afraid to get in someone’s face. — Adam Rapoport, Bon Appétit, "It’s Not Easy Being Green—But We’re Trying," 7 Jan. 2020 That’s because dogs, like humans, are hardwired to be afraid of sudden, loud noises. — Popular Science, "Six ways you can ease your dog’s fear of fireworks," 31 Dec. 2019 One shepherd noted that leopards were afraid of human beings and would stay out of their way. — Bhanu Sridharan, Quartz India, "In a Himalayan Indian village, “leopards escort humans safely”," 24 Dec. 2019 Throughout the pre-free agency period last winter, the Broncos were linked to Jackson because coach Vic Fangio covets versatile players who aren’t afraid to tackle, and Jackson checked both of those boxes. — Ryan O’halloran, The Denver Post, "In first year with Broncos, Kareem Jackson has proven to be right fit," 6 Dec. 2019 There were women who never told their husbands, afraid they’d be labeled as infertile. — Hilaria Baldwin, Glamour, "Hilaria Baldwin: ‘There’s No Right Way to Deal With a Miscarriage’," 28 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'afraid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

15 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afraid. Accessed 19 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for afraid

afraid

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of afraid

: worried that something will cause pain or injury

: nervous about doing something

: nervous or worried that something might happen

See the full definition for afraid in the English Language Learners Dictionary

afraid

\ ə-ˈfrād

\

Kids Definition of afraid

1 : filled with fear She was afraid of snakes.

2 : filled with concern or regret I'm afraid I won't be able to go.

3 : having a dislike for something They're not afraid to work hard.

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