Fright
/fraɪt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA sudden and intense feeling of fear.
/fraɪt/
The unexpected noise gave her a fright.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're walking in the woods at night and a big, scary shadow appears suddenly! That overwhelming feeling of fear is *fright*. It's like when a surprise jump scare in a movie makes you jump!
👶 For kids: When you feel really, really scared all of a sudden, that's a fright!
More Examples
He was paralyzed with fright when he saw the bear.
The dark forest filled the hikers with fright.
How It's Used
"The loud thunderclap filled the children with fright."
"The monster's sudden appearance caused a moment of pure fright."
To cause someone to feel fear or alarm.
/fraɪt/
To cause someone to feel fear.
The dark and stormy night began to fright the children.
💡 Simply: To *fright* someone means to scare them. If you hide behind a door and then jump out to yell 'Boo!' you are trying to fright your friend.
👶 For kids: To make someone scared.
More Examples
The unexpected noise frighted the cat.
The haunted house was designed to fright visitors.
How It's Used
"The clown was designed to fright children."
"The director used music and lighting to fright the audience."
Idioms & expressions
out of fright
Because of being frightened.
"She ran away out of fright."
take fright
To become afraid and run away or be frightened.
"The horse took fright and threw the rider."
From Middle English *friht*, *friȝt*, from Old English *fryhto*, *fyhto* (“fear, fright, terror”), from Proto-Germanic *fuhtō* (“fear”), from Proto-Indo-European *pewk- (“to flee, avoid”). Related to German *Furcht* and Dutch *vrees*.
Historically, 'fright' and its related forms have been present in English literature and speech for centuries, particularly in descriptions of fear and terror. Its usage remains consistent with its core meaning.
Memory tip
Think of a *light* switch turning on and causing a sudden *fright* because of the dark.