a ‧ fraid S1 W2 /əˈfreɪd/ BrE AmE adjective [not before noun]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Past participle of affray 'to frighten' (14-19 centuries) , from Old French affreer ; ⇨ ↑ affray ]
1 . frightened because you think that you may get hurt or that something bad may happen SYN scared :
There’s no need to be afraid.
afraid of (doing) something
kids who are afraid of the dark
He was afraid of being caught by the police.
afraid to do something
Zoe was half afraid (=a little afraid) to go back in the house.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often say scared rather than afraid :
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I’m scared of heights.
2 . worried about what might happen, or that something bad will happen
afraid (that)
He was afraid that the other kids would laugh at him.
afraid of (doing) something
I didn’t tell her because I was afraid of upsetting her.
The government was afraid of a public outcry.
afraid to do something
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
3 . afraid for somebody/something worried that something bad may happen to a particular person or thing:
Her father looked ill and she was suddenly afraid for him.
Many of us were afraid for our jobs.
4 . I’m afraid spoken used to politely tell someone something that may annoy, upset, or disappoint them:
That’s the most we can offer you, I’m afraid.
I’m afraid (that)
I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong address.
‘Is she very ill?’ ‘I’m afraid so (=yes) .’
‘Did you see him?’ ‘I’m afraid not (=no) .’
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GRAMMAR
Afraid to do something means 'unwilling to do something, because you are frightened or worried':
▪
They are afraid to express their political views.
Afraid of doing something can also mean this:
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When I was a child, I was afraid of going to sleep.
However, it more often means 'frightened or worried that something might happen as a result of your action':
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They were afraid of damaging their careers.
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THESAURUS
▪ frightened feeling worried because you might get hurt or because something bad might happen:
I was too frightened to say anything.
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Many animals are frightened of fireworks.
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Frightened residents called the police as the gang started throwing bricks.
▪ scared [not before noun] especially spoken frightened. Scared is less formal than frightened and is the usual word to use in everyday English:
I’m scared of dogs.
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Old people are too scared to go out of their homes.
▪ afraid [not before noun] frightened. Afraid sounds more formal than frightened or scared :
Children are often afraid of the dark.
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I was afraid that I might say the wrong thing.
▪ alarmed frightened and worried that something bad might happen:
She was alarmed at the thought of performing in front of an audience.
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Alarmed passengers spotted fuel leaking from the plane.
▪ fearful formal frightened that something bad might happen:
They are fearful of another terrorist attack.
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He was fearful that he might make another mistake.
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a fearful panic