fright

fright · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A sudden intense feeling of fear.

  2. 2.

    An experience that causes fear.

  3. 3.

    (Informal) A person or thing that looks ridiculous or shocking.

Forms

plural: frights

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    give someone a fright — to scare someone
  • •
    take fright — to become suddenly frightened
  • •
    stage fright — nervousness before performing
  • •
    look a fright — to look very disheveled or ridiculous

Related words

Antonyms: calm, courage, fearlessness
See also: fear, frighten, frightened, frightening
Synonyms: alarm, fear, scare, terror

Etymology

From Old English fyrhtu ("fear, terror"), from Proto-Germanic furhtī. Related to German Furcht ("fear") and fürchten ("to fear").