frighten — to make someone feel afraid or anxious
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make someone feel afraid or anxious
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfraɪtən/
Example Sentences
- My mom's cooking is so bad it could frighten a food critic into early retirement.
- The horror movie was designed to frighten audiences, but I fell asleep halfway through.
- Don't let failure frighten you away from pursuing your dreams.
frighten
VERB[/ˈfraɪtən/]
to make someone feel afraid or anxious
The sudden thunder seemed to frighten the little girl hiding under her blanket.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'frihtan' meaning to terrify or fear, derived from Germanic roots related to 'fright' (sudden fear). The word is connected to Proto-Germanic '*frektaz' meaning bold or dangerous.
Breakdown
frighten = fright (fear/sudden alarm) + -en (verb suffix meaning 'to cause or make') = to cause fear or alarm in someone
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom's cooking is so bad it could frighten a food critic into early retirement.”
“The horror movie was designed to frighten audiences, but I fell asleep halfway through.”
“Don't let failure frighten you away from pursuing your dreams.”
“The sudden noise frightened the cat, making it jump onto the curtains.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.