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afraid

adjective
\ ə-ˈfrād How to pronounce afraid (audio) , Southern also ə-ˈfred\

Definition of afraid

1 : filled with fear or apprehension afraid of machines was afraid for his job
2 : filled with concern or regret over an unwanted situation I'm afraid I won't be able to go.
3 : having a dislike for something She's not afraid of hard work. [=she's not unwilling to work hard]
Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about afraid

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Choose the Right Synonym for afraid

fearful, apprehensive, afraid mean disturbed by fear. fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament. the child is fearful of loud noises apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger. apprehensive of being found out afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance. afraid to speak the truth

Examples of afraid in a Sentence

Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago.

Recent Examples on the Web

 That would be a remarkable move, but this young government hasn't been afraid of making bullish decisions. — Rob Picheta, CNN, "Boris Johnson had a torrid week. Now he's fighting to take back control," 8 Sep. 2019 Facebook wants to trade in likes for true love, Porsche is charging into the electric future, and Americans may not be as afraid of facial recognition as previously thought. — Wired, "Facebook's Dating App Arrives, Porsche's EV Impresses, and More News," 5 Sep. 2019 Ali is afraid of the possibility of an accident and just doesn’t trust his driving skills, much less the skills of others. — Savvy Psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, Scientific American, "How to Conquer Your Fear of Driving," 4 Sep. 2019 Viewers were obsessed with the hunky profiler who wasn't afraid to chase down the most dangerous serial killers in the country. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Here's the Real Reason Shemar Moore Left 'Criminal Minds'," 10 Aug. 2019 Cummings isn't afraid to take women to task for their outdated behavior, either. — Emma Grey Ellis, WIRED, "Whitney Cummings—and Her Sex Robot—Take on Modern Womanhood," 31 July 2019 Lopez said raids like these make people afraid to leave their houses or go to work, which could then eventually have an effect on Oregon’s agricultural industry. — oregonlive.com, "ICE arrests at least 6 in Oregon amid recent sweeps," 16 July 2019 But what about the boys who want to dance but are afraid to? — New York Times, "Hey, Lara Spencer, Ballet Is for Boys," 23 Aug. 2019 Take note of the hair loss and any other symptoms and ask your doctor or dermatologist for a comprehensive blood test and do not be afraid to advocate for yourself. — Ivana Rihter, Allure, "The Complete Guide to Hair Loss for Women," 22 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'afraid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of afraid

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for afraid

Middle English affraied, afraied, from past participle of affraien "to disturb, frighten" — more at affray entry 2

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More Definitions for afraid

afraid

adjective
How to pronounce afraid (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of afraid

: worried that something will cause pain or injury
: nervous about doing something
: nervous or worried that something might happen

See the full definition for afraid in the English Language Learners Dictionary

afraid

adjective
\ ə-ˈfrād How to pronounce afraid (audio) \

Kids Definition of afraid

1 : filled with fear She was afraid of snakes.
2 : filled with concern or regret I'm afraid I won't be able to go.
3 : having a dislike for something They're not afraid to work hard.

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More from Merriam-Webster on afraid

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with afraid

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for afraid

Spanish Central: Translation of afraid

Nglish: Translation of afraid for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of afraid for Arabic Speakers

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