Word of the Day

: November 20, 2021

trepidation

noun trep-uh-DAY-shun

What It Means

Trepidation is a feeling of fear that causes hesitation because you think that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen.

// The students felt a sense of trepidation as they walked toward the principal's office.

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trepidation in Context

"The current market is great for employment. There was a lot of trepidation for companies in 2020. People wanted to see how things would work out and were stalling." — Lisa Noble, quoted in The New York Times, 8 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

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." Early meanings of trepidation, such as "tremulous motion" or "tremor," reflect that origin; those are followed by the word's sense of "apprehension."