fret

fret — verb

1. to feel anxious or uneasy about a situation, often about something that may or m

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to feel anxious or uneasy about a situation, often about something that may or may not happen — for example, fretting about a job interview, or over a child's health.

Example

Amelia fretted over her exam results for days, unable to eat properly.

fret over + noun phrase

Bao fretted that he had said the wrong thing during the meeting.

fret + that-clause

Common collocations
  • fret about
  • fret over
  • fret that
  • don't fret
  • fret constantly
  • fret secretly
Synonyms
  • worry

    more general and common; fret suggests a more restless, persistent form of worry

  • fuss

    implies unnecessary nervous activity, often over small matters

  • agonize

    more intense and prolonged; suggests painful mental struggle

Antonyms
  • relax

    to stop feeling anxious; to become calm

  • trust

    opposite in spirit; to have confidence that things will be fine

Grammar Patterns

fret about/over something

fret that …

Usage Note

Frequently used in progressive form (is fretting, was fretting) to describe an ongoing state of worry. The object of worry is introduced by about, over, or a that-clause.

Common Mistakes

I fret him not coming home.
I fret that he is not coming home.
fret is intransitive; do not follow it directly with a noun object. Use a that-clause or a preposition (about/over).
She fretted for the exam results.
She fretted over the exam results.
for is not the preposition used with fret; use about or over.

2. to gradually damage, erode, or make marks on a surface through repeated rubbing,

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

to gradually damage, erode, or make marks on a surface through repeated rubbing, gnawing, or friction — for example, a rope fretting against a rock, or water fretting a riverbank.

Example

The rope fretted against the sharp edge of the rock until it snapped.

fret against + surface

A small stream had fretted a groove into the limestone over hundreds of years.

transitive: fret + object + into + location

Common collocations
  • fret against
  • fret at
  • fret away
  • fret a groove
  • fret a channel
Synonyms
  • erode

    broader, more scientific; gradual removal by wind, water, or chemical action

  • chafe

    more specific to rubbing that causes soreness or damage to skin or fabric

  • gnaw

    suggests biting or chewing action, often by animals

Antonyms
  • smooth

    to make even or polished, the opposite of wearing away

  • repair

    to fix damage caused by wear

Grammar Patterns

fret + object + against/on something

something frets (away)

Usage Note

Often used in literary or descriptive writing about natural erosion. The object undergoing damage is usually solid (rock, wood, fabric, rope, skin).

Common Mistakes

The rope fretted the rock.
The rope fretted against the rock.
when describing friction damage, use fret against/on/at, not fret + direct object (unless the direct object is the thing being worn away).

fret — noun

Word family

  • fretful
    adjectiveC1
  • fretfully
    adverbC1
  • fretting
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Worry is the broadest term and the most neutral: anyone can worry about anything, from health to money to the weather. Fret overlaps with worry but adds a sense of restless, visible agitation — a person who frets often cannot sit still, paces, or asks repeated questions. Fuss suggests nervous activity over things that may be too small to deserve it, with a slightly dismissive tone ('Stop fussing over the table arrangement'). Agonize is the most intense of the four: it implies prolonged mental suffering and painful deliberation, often over a difficult decision ('She agonized for weeks over whether to accept the transfer'). Where worry and fret can apply to everyday concerns, agonize is reserved for truly weighty or painful choices. In casual use, fret can sound slightly old-fashioned or literary; worry is safe in any register.

worry ↗fuss ↗agonizefret ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • fret board
  • fret marker
  • fret wire
  • sea fret
  • fret and fume

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in a fret
  • fret and fume
  • don't fret
  • fret away

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchEnglish

Fret comes from the Old English verb fretan, meaning 'to devour, eat up,' formed from for- (away, completely) and etan (to eat). This earlier meaning of 'gnaw away' survives in verb sense 2 (to erode by friction). Over time, the idea of being 'eaten up' by anxiety gave rise to verb sense 1 (to worry). The guitar-fret noun is unrelated: it probably comes from a different Old French word frete meaning 'a ring or band,' referring to the metal strips that encircle the instrument neck.