petrify Definition
- 1to make someone very frightened
- 2to turn something into stone or a substance like stone
Using petrify: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "petrify" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The thought of speaking in public petrifies me.
Example
The sight of the snake petrified her with fear.
Example
The sudden loud noise petrified the cat.
Example
The volcanic eruption petrified the nearby trees.
petrify Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using petrify
Example
When she saw the spider, she was petrified with fear and couldn't move.
Example
He's petrified of flying and always takes a train or car instead.
Example
The environmentalists were outraged by the petrified forest caused by the logging company.
Phrases with petrify
Example
The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is known for its ancient petrified trees.
Example
The petrified wood found in Yellowstone National Park is over 50 million years old.
petrified remains
the fossilized remains of plants or animals that have turned into stone over time
Example
The petrified remains of dinosaurs can be found in many museums around the world.
Origins of petrify
from Latin 'petra', meaning 'rock'
Summary: petrify in Brief
To 'petrify' [ˈpɛtrɪfaɪ] means to make someone very frightened or to turn something into stone. It can refer to emotional states like fear, as in 'The thought of speaking in public petrifies me,' or geological processes, as in 'The volcanic eruption petrified the nearby trees.' The term extends into phrases like 'petrified with fear' and idioms like 'petrified of something,' denoting extreme fear.
