petrified

adjective
UK: /ˈpetrɪfaɪd/
US: /ˈpetrɪfaɪd/

  1. So frightened that you are unable to move or think.

    1. I was petrified when I heard the loud noise outside.
    2. The sudden appearance of the snake left her petrified with fear, unable to scream.

  2. Changed into stone or a substance similar to stone.

    1. The petrified wood looked just like a normal log.
    2. Scientists study the petrified remains of ancient trees to learn about past climates.

Synonyms

scared frightened aghast stonelike
petrified verb

  1. To frighten someone so much that they are unable to move or think.

    1. The horror movie petrified the children.
    2. Snakes petrified him; he felt his body freeze when he saw one.

  2. To change something into stone or a stony substance.

    1. Over millions of years, minerals petrified the bones.
    2. The volcanic ash eventually petrified the entire forest, creating a unique landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "petrified" in English means: So frightened that you are unable to move or think., Changed into stone or a substance similar to stone..

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

Synonyms for "petrified": scared, frightened, aghast, stonelike.

Example usage of "petrified": "I was petrified when I heard the loud noise outside.". More examples on the page.