What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
apprehension
Example
She felt a sense of apprehension before her job interview. [apprehension: noun]
Example
He hesitated with apprehension before jumping off the diving board. [apprehension: noun]
fear
Example
She has a fear of spiders and gets scared whenever she sees one. [fear: noun]
Example
He feared the dark and always slept with a nightlight. [feared: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fear is more commonly used than apprehension in everyday language. Fear is a universal emotion that is widely understood, while apprehension is less commonly used and may require more context for clarity.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between apprehension and fear?
Both apprehension and fear can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, apprehension may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its less frequent usage.
