fear

noun
UK: /fɪər/
US: /fɪr/

  1. An unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, pain, or threat.

    1. I have a fear of heights, so I can't climb it. [ ] [ ]
    2. The widespread fear of crime is impacting daily life decisions. [ ] [ ]

  2. A feeling of anxiety or concern about a possible event.

    1. My biggest fear is that I will fail the exam. [ ] [ ]
    2. She voiced her fear that the project might not be completed on time. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

dread concern apprehension terror panic anxiety worry
fear verb

  1. To be afraid of someone or something.

    1. I fear snakes, so I never go near them. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many people fear public speaking more than they fear death itself. [ ] [ ]

  2. To be worried or anxious about a possible event or outcome.

    1. We fear that the company will close down soon. [ ] [ ]
    2. Environmentalists fear that the oil spill will harm marine life permanently. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "fear" in English means: An unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, pain, or threat., A feeling of anxiety or concern about a possible event..

The phonetic transcription of "fear" is /fɪər/ in British English and /fɪr/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "fear": dread, concern, apprehension, terror, panic, anxiety, worry.

Example usage of "fear": "I have a fear of heights, so I can't climb it.". More examples on the page.