fray

1 of 4

noun (1)

: a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute
Fighting there could easily draw neighboring nations into the fray.Blaine Harden
… the patrician statesman who stood above the fray.Richard D. Hylton

fray

2 of 4

verb (1)

frayed; fraying; frays

transitive verb

1
a
: to wear (something, such as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing : fret
b
: to separate the threads at the edge of
2
: strain, irritate
… a botched new bus system … which has frayed tempers.The Economist

intransitive verb

1
: to wear out or into shreds
2
: to show signs of strain
fraying nerves

fray

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a raveled place or worn spot (as on fabric)

fray

4 of 4

verb (2)

frayed; fraying; frays

transitive verb

archaic
: scare
also : to frighten away

Examples of fray in a Sentence

Noun (1) another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS a troubled youth always getting into frays at school school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention Verb (1) constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The blend of physical locations with sets and digital imagery is seamless and the CG work on the creatures is first-rate, notably so in the scary climactic stretch when the lumbering D. Rex joins the fray. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025 Among majors, Germany, Brazil and Mexico join the fray on Thursday. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 June 2025
Verb
This idea began to fray when early robot AI failed to handle messy, real-world conditions. New Atlas, 29 June 2025 As his confidence begins to fray, and as his smoothly speeding vehicle starts to seem like more and more of a prison, the film becomes almost heart-stoppingly suspenseful. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fray

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English fraien, from Anglo-French freier, froier to rub, from Latin fricare — more at friction

Verb (2) and Noun (1)

Middle English fraien, short for affraien to affray

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1630, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fray was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fray. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

fray

1 of 2 noun
: an usually disorderly or long fight, struggle, or dispute

fray

2 of 2 verb
1
a
: to wear (as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing
b
: to separate the threads at the edge of
cutoff jeans with frayed edges
2
: to show or cause to show signs of strain
nerves were beginning to fray
Etymology

Noun

from earlier fray "fright," from affray "quarrel, fight," derived from early French affreer "to attack, disturb, frighten" — related to afraid

Verb

Middle English fraien "to fray," from early French freier, froier "to rub," from Latin fricare "to rub" — related to friction

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