stage fright

noun

: nervousness felt at appearing before an audience

Examples of stage fright in a Sentence

She got over her stage fright by the second act. I get stage fright whenever I have to speak in front of a large group of people.
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.
This tour also follows Lorde's two years of MDMA and psilocybin therapy, a PTSD treatment, which helped free her from crippling stage fright. Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Sep. 2025 Getty had intense stage fright and frequently struggled with her lines. Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025 The expo-style format also eliminates the stage fright some people might experience presenting their ideas before an audience. Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025 Pauline's effort to overcome inherent stage fright and embrace the magical power of her singing voice was surprisingly touching. ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for stage fright

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stage fright was in 1876

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stage fright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stage%20fright. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

stage fright

noun
: nervousness felt at appearing before an audience
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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