fright

[frahyt]

noun

1. sudden and extreme fear; a sudden terror.

   Synonyms: alarm, consternation, dismay

2. a person or thing of shocking, grotesque, or ridiculous appearance.

verb (used with object)

1. to frighten.

fright

/ fraɪt /

noun

1. sudden intense fear or alarm

2. a sudden alarming shock

3. informal,  a horrifying, grotesque, or ludicrous person or thing

   she looks a fright in that hat

4. to become frightened

verb

1. a poetic word for frighten

Other Word Forms

• self-frighted adjective
• unfrighted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fright¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English frytu, fyrhto; akin to German Furcht

Word History and Origins

Origin of fright¹

Old English fryhto ; related to Gothic faurhtei , Old Frisian fruchte , Old High German forhta

Synonym Study

See terror.

Example Sentences

I have terrible stage fright and I am always worried about disappointing people.

From Los Angeles Times

Original tale “Scarecrow: The Reaping,” which began at Universal Studios Florida, mixes in jump scares with more natural-seeming frights, such as the aforementioned simulated dust bowl.

From Los Angeles Times

"I tried everything for my stage fright. I did this therapy and woke up the next morning like, 'Oh, it's over. I know it's over'."

From BBC

Speaking with somebody that I’ve talked to many times helps ease the sort of stage fright there.

From Los Angeles Times

"I have stage fright every single concert I've ever done," he later recalled.

From BBC

Related Words

• consternation 
• dismay 
• horror 
• panic 
• trepidation