fear

noun

ˈfir 

1

a

: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

trembling with fear

a tale that inspired fear = a tale that struck fear into our hearts

b(1)

: a particular instance or category of this emotion

a fear of heights

… the preschool years, when fear of the dark is common.

—Rachel Spector

wouldn't speak out for fear of retaliation

were in fear for [=afraid of losing] their lives

… went into hiding … out of fear for herself and family …

—Gary Dimmock

—often used in plural

shared their hopes and fears for the future

The news confirmed our worst fears.

The building was closed due to safety fears.

Friday's July jobs report spurred fears of recession …

—Heather Hunter

(2)

: a state marked by this emotion

living in fear

2

: profound reverence and awe especially toward God

fear of God

He was a fighter … who would put the fear of God into opponents. [=make opponents very afraid]

—Mike Summerbee, quoted in Daily Mirror (London)

3

: reason for alarm : danger

Starvation is still a real fear for many people around the world.

Synonyms of fear

• anxiety
• fearfulness
• dread
• panic
• terror

Choose the Right Synonym for fear

fear, dread, fright, alarm, panic, terror, trepidation mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger.

fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

Examples of fear in a Sentence

He was trembling with fear.

unable to walk the streets without fear of being mugged

They regarded their enemies with fear and hatred.

I've been trying to overcome my fear of flying.

The doctor's diagnosis confirmed our worst fears.

The government is trying to allay fears of a recession.

Employees expressed fears that the company would go out of business.

He told us about all his hopes and fears.

She has a morbid fear of cats.

Recent Examples on the Web

Israel launched airstrikes on central and western Iran after Tehran fired missiles at Israel, jolting major cities with explosions and raising fears the region is sliding back toward all-out war. —Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

The coming week will likely see even more volatility as fresh readings on consumer inflation on Wednesday and producer inflation on Thursday fuel additional Fed rate hike fears. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 June 2026

And with the rollout of artificial intelligence at workplaces threatening to displace white-collar jobs, workers are riddled with fear about their futures. —Dee Depass, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026

These fears lead them to rebelling against the technology overall. —Staff Author, Parents, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fer, going back to Old English fǣr, fēr "unexpected danger, peril," going back to Germanic *fēra- or *fēran- (whence also Old Saxon fār "lurking danger," Old High German fāra "ambush, danger," Old Norse fár "evil, mischief, plague"), perhaps going back to a lengthened-grade nominal derivative of a proposed Indo-European verbal base *per- "test, risk" — more at peril entry 1

Note: Attested in Gothic only in the presumed derivative ferja, translating Greek enkáthetos "one put in secretly, spy." Though the etymology proposed above is conventional in dictionaries, the original meaning of the Germanic etymon and its relation to a putative Indo-European *per- are uncertain. See note at peril entry 1. The meaning of the Middle and Modern English noun appears to be derivative of the verb (see fear entry 2) rather than a development of the Old English meaning.

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fear

• fear for
• fear for one's life
• fear for one's/someone's life
• fear not
• fear of the unknown
• fear the worst
• fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)
• go where others fear to tread
• I fear
• in fear for one's life
• in fear for one's/someone's life
• in fear of one's life
• live in fear
• Never fear
• no fear
• no need to fear
• put the fear of God into (someone)
• strike fear into one's heart
• strike fear into the hearts of
• without fear of contradiction

Rhymes for fear

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fier
• gear
• hear
• here

Kids Definition

fear

1 of 2 noun

ˈfi(ə)r 

1

a

: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by expectation or awareness of danger

b

: an instance of fear or a state marked by fear

2

: concern about what may happen : worry

3

: awe entry 1

fear

2 of 2 verb

1

: to feel great awe of

fear God

2

: to be afraid of : have fear

3

: to be worried

feared they would miss the train

fearer noun

Medical Definition

fear

noun

ˈfi(ə)r 

1

: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger and accompanied by increased autonomic activity

2

: an instance of fear

fear verb