Definitions for afraid
əˈfreɪdafraid

Princeton's WordNet(4.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. afraid(p)adjective

   filled with fear or apprehension

   "afraid even to turn his head"; "suddenly looked afraid"; "afraid for his life"; "afraid of snakes"; "afraid to ask questions"

2. afraidadjective

   filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement

   "I'm afraid I won't be able to come"; "he was afraid he would have to let her go"; "I'm afraid you're wrong"

3. afraidadjective

   feeling worry or concern or insecurity

   "She was afraid that I might be embarrassed"; "terribly afraid of offending someone"; "I am afraid we have witnessed only the first phase of the conflict"

4. afraidadjective

   having feelings of aversion or unwillingness

   "afraid of hard work"; "afraid to show emotion"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. afraidadjective

   Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.

2. afraidadjective

   regretful, sorry

   I am afraid I can not help you in this matter.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Afraidparticipial adj.

   Etymology: from the verb affray:

   1. Struck with fear; terrified; fearful.

   So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Psalm lxxxiii. 15.

   2. It has often the particle of before the object of fear.

   There, loathing life, and yet of death afraid,
   In anguish of her spirit, thus she pray’d. John Dryden, Fables.

   If, while this wearied flesh draws fleeting breath,
   Not satisfy’d with life, afraid of death,
   It hap’ly be thy will, that I should know
   Glimpse of delight, or pause from anxious woe;
   From now, from instant now, great Sire, dispel
   The clouds that press my soul. Matthew Prior.

Webster Dictionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Afraid

   impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Afraid

   "Afraid" is a song by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on their 1997 album Generation Swine. A two-track pig promo picture CD includes the 3:56 Swine Mix and 4:10 Rave Mix. Written by bassist Nikki Sixx, the lyrics were inspired by the early stages of his relationship with Donna D'Errico, when he felt she was running away from him from fear of getting too close. The song charted at number 10 on the Mainstream rock charts.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Afraid

   a-frād′, adj. struck with fear: timid. [See Affray.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. afraid

   One of the most reproachful sea-epithets, as not only conveying the meaning being struck with fear, but also implies rank cowardice. (See AFEARD.)

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'afraid' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1848

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'afraid' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1236

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'afraid' in Adjectives Frequency: #221

How to pronounce afraid?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say afraid in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of afraid in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of afraid in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of afraid in a Sentence

1. Alia Salem:

   There is a lot of fear out there, people are afraid to go outside or they are taking off their head scarves so they don't draw attention.

2. RJ Intindola:

   Don’t be afraid to burn a bridge you never want to cross again.

3. Sandi Tenfelde:

   Many women are afraid (to resume sexual intercourse), so I think fear plays into that part of desire, if you are concerned about the changes that happen in your body and you’re nervous about what it’s going to feel like, that fear can reduce the desire.

4. Jeff Laughlin:

   It sends an important message that legislatures don't have to be afraid of this, it's not a third rail anymore.

5. Philip Baggaley:

   International travel is most vulnerable, governments are going to react more quickly than they have in the past with travel bans. Politicians are afraid of being second-guessed if they don't act.

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