adjective
- Filled with fear or apprehension.
- usage: "afraid even to turn his head"; "suddenly looked afraid"; "afraid for his life"; "afraid of snakes"; "afraid to ask questions"
- Filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement.
- usage: "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"
- Feeling worry or concern or insecurity.
- usage: "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"
- Having feelings of aversion or unwillingness.
- usage: "afraid of hard work"; "afraid to show emotion"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
| APA | WordNet. (2010). afraid. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/afraid/definitions/1167486 |
| Chicago | WordNet. 2010. "afraid" http://smartdefine.org/afraid/definitions/1167486 (accessed September 22, 2026). |
| Harvard | WordNet 2010, afraid, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/afraid/definitions/1167486>. |
| MLA | WordNet. "afraid" 23 October 2010. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/afraid/definitions/1167486> |