fear
fear — noun
1. the strong unpleasant feeling you get in your body and mind when danger or harm
the strong unpleasant feeling you get in your body and mind when danger or harm seems near or when you believe something bad could happen
Gita felt a sudden fear when she heard footsteps behind her on the dark street.
The fear of losing her job kept Ziad awake at night for weeks.
collocation: fear of + gerund
Paloma's fear of flying made her take the train across the country instead.
countable: a fear of [something]
Aoi could not hide the fear in her voice as she described the accident.
Eli lived in constant fear of another earthquake after the big one destroyed his village.
uncountable: in [constant/great] fear
- fear of heights
- fear of failure
- fear of the unknown
- deep fear
- great fear
- constant fear
- public fear
Grammar Patterns
fear + of + noun/gerund
fear + that-clause
Common Mistakes
2. a state of being afraid for your own survival because someone or something could
a state of being afraid for your own survival because someone or something could cause you great harm
Eli lived in constant fear for his life during the war.
phrase: in fear for one's life
The witness was in fear of being attacked if she went to court.
Miners often work in fear of a tunnel collapse deep underground.
phrase: in fear of [danger]
Joshua stayed hidden in the basement for fear of the soldiers outside.
- in fear of
- for fear of
- fear for one's life
- live in fear
- safety
the state of being free from danger or threat
Grammar Patterns
for fear of + noun/gerund
in fear of + noun
Usage Note
Typically used in the fixed expressions 'in fear of (one's life)' and 'for fear of + noun/gerund'. The phrase 'for fear of' explains why someone avoids doing something.
Common Mistakes
3. expresses the idea that a particular situation or event has absolutely no chance
expresses the idea that a particular situation or event has absolutely no chance of happening
There is no fear of the river flooding now that the new dam is finished.
phrase: no fear of [something]
Élise told her mother there was no fear that she would miss the last train.
No fear of that! The bridge was built to survive even the strongest storms.
With the new security system in place there is no fear of anyone breaking in.
- no fear of
- no fear that
- no chance
more direct and informal; simply states impossibility
- possibility
a situation in which something might happen
- risk
a chance that something bad might happen
Grammar Patterns
there is no fear of + noun/gerund
no fear that + clause
Usage Note
Common in British English. 'No fear!' can also stand alone as an informal reply meaning 'definitely not' or 'certainly not'.
Common Mistakes
4. the reason someone acts or refuses to act in a certain way — they are afraid som
the reason someone acts or refuses to act in a certain way — they are afraid something bad will take place if they do not
Liam stayed quiet for fear that his answer would make the teacher angry.
phrase: for fear that + clause
Sade locked all the windows for fear of thieves breaking in during the night.
Lan wrote down the address for fear of forgetting it on the way to the party.
phrase: for fear of + gerund
The company kept the news secret for fear that staff would quit before the project ended.
- for fear that
- for fear of
Grammar Patterns
for fear that + clause
for fear of + gerund
Usage Note
This sense only works within the phrase 'for fear (that/of)'. It explains the motive behind an action. It is not a stand-alone noun meaning 'worry'.
Common Mistakes
5. a feeling of deep respect and awe, especially towards God, a spiritual power, or
a feeling of deep respect and awe, especially towards God, a spiritual power, or something very powerful and mysterious in nature
The monks live with a deep fear of God that guides all their daily actions.
collocation: fear of God
Christopher looked up at the old mountains with a sense of fear and wonder.
Pim explained that in his monastery, the fear of God is seen as the beginning of wisdom.
Zuri spoke of the sacred forest with fear in her voice, as if it were alive.
- fear of God
- fear of the Lord
- fear and wonder
- fear and trembling
- awe
a feeling of amazed respect mixed with fear or wonder
- reverence
deep respect for someone or something, often in a religious context
- veneration
great respect shown through religious or traditional practices
- disrespect
lack of respect or politeness
- contempt
the feeling that something is worthless or beneath notice
Grammar Patterns
fear of + noun
Usage Note
Frequently appears in religious and literary contexts. 'The fear of God' is a set phrase found in the Bible and religious texts — it means reverent awe, not terror.
Common Mistakes
This phrase is used to say that someone avoids doing something because they are worried about a possible bad result.
Sara stayed home for fear of catching the flu.
Diego didn't complain for fear that he might lose his job.
in fear of your life
idiomThis phrase describes a situation where someone is very scared that they might be killed.
The witness lived in fear of her life after testifying.
Min fled the country in fear of his life.
no fear
idiomThis phrase is used to strongly refuse to do something or to say that you definitely will not do it.
‘Will you try the spicy noodles?’ ‘No fear!’
Aiden said no fear when asked to bungee jump.
This phrase means to make someone extremely frightened, often to force them to behave or obey.
The strict teacher put the fear of God into her students.
Maya's father put the fear of God into her about driving safely.
This phrase means to cause someone to feel fear or terror.
The dark forest struck fear into the children's hearts.
The sudden noise struck fear into Brian's heart.
This phrase means to act in a fair and honest way, without being influenced by personal feelings or preferences.
The judge promised to decide the case without fear or favour.
The committee reviewed all applications without fear or favour.
fear — verb
1. to feel afraid of someone or something because you think they may cause you pain
to feel afraid of someone or something because you think they may cause you pain, harm, or trouble
Pim fears dogs ever since one bit him when he was a small child.
transitive: fear + noun
Many people fear the dentist and put off their check-ups for years.
The old fisherman did not fear the storm because he knew these waters well.
Gabriela fears nothing — she climbed that rock face without ropes or help.
negative structure: fear nothing
Salma fears for her grandmother's health during the cold winter months.
structure: fear for + object
- fear the worst
- fear change
- fear death
- fear for someone's life
- fear for someone's safety
- nothing to fear
- be afraid of
more common in everyday speech; 'fear' is slightly more formal
- be scared of
informal, very common in conversation
- dread
stronger; to fear something that has not happened yet and believe it will be terrible
Grammar Patterns
fear + noun/pronoun
fear + to-infinitive
fear for + noun
Usage Note
This verb is a stative verb and is almost never used in continuous forms. Say 'I fear the test', not 'I am fearing the test'.
Common Mistakes
2. to feel troubled or uneasy about a possible bad outcome or about something that
to feel troubled or uneasy about a possible bad outcome or about something that has possibly gone wrong for someone close to you
Henry feared that his flight would be cancelled because of the heavy snow.
structure: fear + that-clause
The rescue team fears the missing climbers may not have enough food left.
Quinn feared for his younger brother who had not come home from school yet.
Doctors fear that the disease could spread to other towns if not stopped soon.
- fear for someone's safety
- fear for someone's life
- fear the worst
- fear that
- worry
more common in conversation; 'fear' suggests a stronger, more serious concern
- be concerned
more formal and less emotionally intense than 'fear'
- be certain
to have no doubt that something will happen
- trust
to believe that everything will be fine
Grammar Patterns
fear + that-clause
fear + for + noun
Usage Note
The that-clause can be introduced with or without 'that': 'I fear he is late' is as correct as 'I fear that he is late'. This sense often expresses concern for someone's safety or well-being.
Common Mistakes
3. used as a polite or formal way to tell someone something unpleasant or disappoin
used as a polite or formal way to tell someone something unpleasant or disappointing, often news that you wish were not true
I fear we have no choice but to cancel the school trip this year.
register: formal 'I fear' as polite opener
I fear there has been a mistake in the calculations for your salary.
I fear the old library will have to close because the city has no money left.
I fear I cannot attend the wedding next Saturday after all.
- I fear
- I fear not
- I fear so
- I'm afraid
less formal than 'I fear'; very common in everyday British English ('I'm afraid I can't come')
- regret to say
more formal; common in official letters and announcements
Grammar Patterns
I fear + that-clause
Usage Note
Almost always used in the first person singular 'I fear'. It is a set phrase that softens bad news. Not used in questions or negative forms in this sense.
Common Mistakes
4. to feel deep respect and awe toward a divine being, a sacred object, or somethin
to feel deep respect and awe toward a divine being, a sacred object, or something majestic in nature — the feeling combines respect, wonder, and a sense of one's own smallness
The villagers fear the ancient volcano as if it were a living god.
formal: fear + sacred/majestic object
In the old stories people feared the forest spirits and left offerings for them.
Ilan does not fear God in the way his grandparents did, but he still prays.
After watching a mudslide sweep away the road, Lan learned to fear the mountain's power.
- fear God
- fear the Lord
- fear the gods
- fear nature
- revere
to feel deep respect and admiration; less religious than 'fear' in this sense
- be in awe of
to feel a mix of respect, wonder, and slight fear; common in modern English
- venerate
to regard with great respect, especially in a religious context; very formal
Grammar Patterns
fear + noun
Usage Note
Archaic or literary register. Modern speakers usually use 'stand in awe of' or 'revere' instead. When 'fear God' appears today, it is typically in religious communities rather than everyday conversation.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- fearfuladjectiveB2
- fearlessadjectiveB2
- fearlesslyadverbC1
- fearsomeadjectiveC1
- fearfulnessnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Fear is the broadest word, covering everything from mild unease to extreme alarm. Dread is a deep, lasting fear of something specific that has not happened yet — like waiting for exam results or medical test outcomes. Terror is a sudden and overwhelming fear that can leave you frozen, often caused by an immediate threat such as an attacker. Panic is a sudden, uncontrollable fear that makes people act without thinking, like running in a crowded room when someone yells "fire!" Fright is a short, sharp shock — a loud noise in the dark gives you a fright, but it passes quickly. In daily use, fear covers general situations ("I have a fear of heights"), dread carries anticipation ("I dread going to the dentist"), terror signals extreme danger ("the look of terror on her face"), and panic describes a loss of control ("panic spread through the crowd").
Common collocations
Etymology
Fear comes from Old English fǣr, which originally meant 'sudden danger or peril' rather than the emotion itself. This word is related to Old High German fāra ('ambush, danger') and Old Saxon fār ('danger'). Over time, the meaning shifted from the external danger to the internal feeling that danger produces — much like the word 'alarm' moved from 'a call to arms' to 'a feeling of worry'. The verb form developed later, around the 13th century. The religious sense ('fear of God') preserving 'fear' as 'reverent awe' has existed since the earliest English translations of the Bible.