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.
Pauline's effort to overcome inherent stage fright and embrace the magical power of her singing voice was surprisingly touching. ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025 Reportedly dissuaded at a young age from performing by a nasty case of stage fright, Simmons pursued her passion from a different angle. Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 10 July 2025 Shaking off her stage fright, Lilliana took over the vocals for an impromptu audition — and impressed the crowd and judges as a result, earning a standing ovation from the audience. Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 9 July 2025 While making and eventually touring the album, Lorde struggled with stage fright and an eating disorder; news of a breakup followed her worldwide arena trek. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 27 June 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 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

stage fright

noun
: nervousness felt at appearing before an audience
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!