trepidation

noun

trep·​i·​da·​tion ˌtre-pə-ˈdā-shən 

1

: a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation : apprehension

trepidation about starting a new job

2

archaic : a tremulous motion : tremor

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Trepidation Has Latin Roots

If you've ever trembled with fright, you know something of both the sensation and etymology of trepidation. The word comes from the Latin verb trepidare, which means "to tremble." (Trepidare also gave English the verb trepidate, meaning "to feel nervous or apprehensive," but that word is now considered archaic.) Early meanings of trepidation, such as "tremulous motion" or "tremor," reflect its "shaky" origins. Over time, however, those senses gave way to our modern meaning referring to fearful hesitancy.

Synonyms

• fear
• anxiety
• fearfulness
• dread

Choose the Right Synonym for trepidation

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 trepidation in a Sentence

In the first minutes, hours, or even days of fieldwork most researchers feel trepidation about being an outsider, a stranger on the scene … —Marie D. Price, Geographical Review, January-April 2001

This was an ambitious project, and a number of us felt some trepidation about the possible results. —Brian Phillips, New Republic, 13 Dec. 1999

I came aboard the 319 with trepidation, to join the lives of utter strangers, a man untried by the circumstances they had known. —Henry G. Bugbee, Jr., "Naval History," in Authors at Sea, Robert Shenk, ed.,  1997

He had some trepidation about agreeing to their proposal.

shaking with trepidation, I stepped into the old abandoned house

Recent Examples on the Web

The trepidation that led to Ohtani’s early exit from his start against these same Phillies last month — when Ohtani was removed from a no-hitter after five innings in an eventual loss — is not part of the calculus this time. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2025

In 1962, National Geographic sent a Dutch photographer named Hugo van Lawick to capture her work, and after some initial trepidation, the two became close and later married. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025

There was no trepidation going in. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025

The announcement, sparse on specific details, captured the trepidation and lingering ambivalences that AI companies have about policing young users, even as OpenAI begins to implement these basic features nearly three years after the launch of ChatGPT. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin trepidation-, trepidatio, from trepidare to tremble, from trepidus agitated; probably akin to Old English thrafian to urge, push, Greek trapein to press grapes

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for trepidation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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Kids Definition

trepidation

noun

trep·​i·​da·​tion ˌtrep-ə-ˈdā-shən 

: a state of alarm or nervousness

approached the abandoned house with trepidation