1 fear
Pronounced:
/ˈfiɚ/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural fearsMeaning:
1 : an unpleasant emotion caused by being aware of danger : a feeling of being afraid [noncount] ▪ He was trembling with fear. ▪ an old story that still has the power to inspire fear [=to make people feel afraid] ▪ unable to walk the streets without fear of being mugged ▪ They regarded their enemies with fear and hatred/loathing. ▪ I've been trying to overcome my fear of flying. ▪ He won't say anything for fear of losing his job. [=because he is afraid of losing his job] ▪ She lived in fear of being caught. = She lived in fear that she would be caught. [=she was always afraid that she would be caught] ▪ They lived in (constant) fear of air raids during the war. ▪ an accident that struck fear into the hearts of [=frightened] skiers everywhere [count] ▪ The doctor's diagnosis confirmed our worst fears. ▪ The government is trying to allay/alleviate/ease fears of a recession. ▪ Employees expressed fears that the company would go out of business. ▪ He told us about all his hopes and fears. ▪ She has a morbid fear of cats. ◊If you are in fear of your life or (US) in fear for your life, you are afraid of being killed. ▪ She claimed that she shot the burglar because she was in fear for her life.
2 [noncount] : a feeling of respect and wonder for something very powerful ▪ fear of God ◊To put the fear of God into someone is to frighten someone very badly. ▪ The bad economic news has put the fear of God into investors.
2 [noncount] : a feeling of respect and wonder for something very powerful ▪ fear of God ◊To put the fear of God into someone is to frighten someone very badly. ▪ The bad economic news has put the fear of God into investors.
no fear
Brit informal —used in speech to say that there is no reason to be afraid or worried ▪ “Are you going to tell her the truth?” “No fear [=never fear, fear not], mate: she won't hear a thing from me!”
synonyms fear, dread, alarm, and fright mean painful emotion felt because of danger. fear is the most general word and suggests a continuing emotional state. ▪ people living in fear of violent crimes dread suggests a strong feeling of not wanting to accept or deal with something bad or unpleasant. ▪ the dread felt by people awaiting bad news alarm may suggest a strong emotion caused by an unexpected or immediate danger. ▪ They view the worsening food shortage with alarm. fright suggests a feeling caused by something unexpected and often suggests a brief emotion. ▪ The creaking door gave them a fright.