fear
A strong, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
Noun 4 meanings
A strong, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
“He was struck by fear on seeing the snake.”
A phobia, a sense of fear induced by something or someone in particular.
“Not everybody has the same fears.”
Something one is afraid of; the object of one’s fear.
“Spiders are my greatest fear.”
Terrified veneration or reverence, particularly towards God, gods, or sovereigns.
Verb 4 meanings
To be afraid of (something or someone); to consider or expect (something or someone) with alarm.
“I fear the worst will happen.”
To feel fear.
“Never fear; help is always near.”
To worry about, to feel concern for, to be afraid for [with for].
“She fears for her son’s safety.”
To venerate; to feel awe towards.
“People who fear God can be found in Christian churches.”
Etymology
From Middle English feer, fere, fer (“fear”), from Old English fǣr, ġefǣr (“calamity, sudden danger, peril, sudden attack, terrible sight”), from Proto-Germanic *fērō, *fērą (“danger”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to go through, carry forth, try”).
Similar and opposite words
FEAR at a glance
FEAR has 4 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (F 4 + E 1 + A 1 + R 1) and 7 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #1,145 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with fear
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