afraid

[əˈfreɪd]

afraid Definition

feeling fear or anxiety; frightened.

Using afraid: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "afraid" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  I'm afraid of heights.

• Example

  She was afraid to speak in public.

• Example

  He's afraid that he won't pass the test.

afraid Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for afraid

• scared
• frightened
• terrified
• panicked
• nervous

Antonyms for afraid

• brave
• fearless
• confident

Phrases with afraid

• be afraid of one's own shadow

  to be excessively timid, nervous, or easily frightened

  Example

  Ever since the accident, she's been afraid of her own shadow.

• afraid not

  used to politely say that something is not possible or cannot be done

  Example

  A: Can you lend me some money? B: Afraid not, I'm broke too.

• afraid of one's own company

  uncomfortable or unhappy when alone

  Example

  She's always surrounded by people because she's afraid of her own company.

Origins of afraid

from Old English 'onfraede', meaning 'fearful'

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Summary: afraid in Brief

'Afraid' [əˈfreɪd] is an adjective that describes feeling fear or anxiety. It is often used in phrases like 'be afraid of one's own shadow,' which means to be excessively timid, and 'afraid not,' which is a polite way of saying something is not possible. Synonyms for 'afraid' include 'scared,' 'frightened,' and 'terrified.' Antonyms include 'brave,' 'fearless,' and 'confident.'