Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
     
Lookup History
frighten

fright·en

frighten

 
 
pronunciation:
fraI tn
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Word Builder, Grammatical Patterns, Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: frightens, frightening, frightened
definition 1: to make fearful or terrified.
The thunder frightened the children.Reports of an escaped convict with a gun frightened the community.It frightens me that there have been so many burglaries in the neighborhood recently.[it + verb + smby + that + clause ]
synonyms:
funk, panic, scare, terrify, terrorize
similar words:
alarm, chill, dismay, horrify, intimidate, petrify, threaten, unnerve
definition 2: to cause to move away suddenly by inducing fear (usu. fol. by "away" or "off").
The fierce dog frightened off most visitors to the house.
synonyms:
alarm, scare, startle
similar words:
agitate, disturb, panic
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: frighteningly (adv.)
Word Builder: frighten +
  • frightened:
    having caused fear in.
  • frightening:
    causing fear; scary.
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature