an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
"The sudden growl from the dark alley filled her with fear, making her want to sprint back home immediately."
a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
"the fear of God"
"the Chinese reverence for the dead"
"the French treat food with gentle reverence"
"his respect for the law bordered on veneration"
A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
"When she heard the loud crash behind her, a sudden wave of fear washed over her as she realized someone might be hurt."
In plain English: Fear is the strong feeling of being scared when you think something bad might happen.
"The fear of losing her job kept her awake at night."
Usage: Use "fear" as a noun to describe the intense anxiety or dread you feel when facing a real or imagined danger. It refers to the emotion itself rather than the action of being afraid.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
"I fear she might get aggressive"
be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement
"I fear I won't make it to your wedding party"
To feel fear about (something or someone); to be afraid of; to consider or expect with alarm.
"After hearing the strange noises in the attic, I began to fear that a burglar had broken into our house."
In plain English: To feel afraid of something is to have a strong feeling that it might hurt you or cause you trouble.
"The loud thunder made the dog fear for its safety."
Usage: Use the verb fear when you want to express that you are worried something bad will happen or that you are anxious about a specific person or situation. It functions as a transitive verb, so it is typically followed directly by the object of your concern, such as "I fear losing my job."
Able; capable; stout; strong; sound.
"The old oak tree stood fear against the hurricane's gale, its branches unyielding and sturdy."
"The fearful child hid under the table when the dog barked."
Usage: The adjective form of "fear" is archaic and rarely used in modern English; instead, use synonyms like "capable," "strong," or "stout." In contemporary writing, the word functions almost exclusively as a noun or verb to describe anxiety or being afraid.
A surname.
"The local historian noted that Mr. Fear was a respected member of the town council for over three decades."
The word "fear" comes from Old English words meaning calamity or sudden danger. It traveled into modern English with this original sense of peril rather than the current abstract feeling of apprehension.