fray

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈfrā 

: 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

Synonyms of fray

Noun (1)

• battle
• struggle
• fight
• effort

Verb (1)

• erode
• wear

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

Noun

That’s why civil servants in national security, disaster relief and federal science have long taken pains to avoid the political fray. —Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026

Multiple European countries have also joined the fray, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Greece, after drones struck the British Royal Air Force Akrotiri base in Mediterranean Cyprus. —Kate Perez, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026

Verb

The finest pitching prospect since Ubaldo Jimenez became undone, fraying at the seams as part of a rotation that should be buried underneath the batting cages at Salt River Fields and never be spoken of again. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026

The fraying ties prompted Islamabad to return almost three million Afghan nationals in recent months, straining Kabul’s scant resources. —semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing fray

• above the fray
• tempers begin to fray

Rhymes for fray

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• frey

Kids Definition

fray

1 of 2 noun

ˈfrā 

: 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