Afraid (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Feeling worry or concern or insecurity; "She was afraid that I might be embarrassed"; "terribly afraid of offending someone"; "I am afraid we have witnessed only the first phase of the conflict".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- He looked worried, clearly afraid that his daughter might get lost in the crowd.
- I am afraid our initial predictions about the project's success were overly optimistic.
- She is afraid to speak in public for fear of being ridiculed.
- He was afraid to take the risk of starting his own business, fearing potential financial losses.
- The parents were afraid their child would not adjust to the new school environment.
Meaning 2
Filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement; "I'm afraid I won't be able to come"; "he was afraid he would have to let her go"; "I'm afraid you're wrong".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the meeting today due to the traffic.
- He was afraid the decision would negatively affect their future plans.
- I'm afraid you're misunderstanding the entire situation, let me explain it again.
- I'm afraid we won't be able to afford that new house with our current budget.
- I'm afraid she will be let go if her performance doesn't improve.
Meaning 3
Having feelings of aversion or unwillingness; "afraid of hard work"; "afraid to show emotion".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- She's afraid of change and likes to stick to her routine.
- He was afraid to express his feelings in public.
- Many people are afraid of failure and don't want to try new things.
- The little boy is afraid of the dark and always keeps a nightlight on.
- As someone who values independence, she's afraid to rely on others for financial support.
Meaning 4
Filled with fear or apprehension; "afraid even to turn his head"; "suddenly looked afraid"; "afraid for his life"; "afraid of snakes"; "afraid to ask questions".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- She was afraid to tell her parents about the accident.
- The little boy was afraid of the dark and couldn't sleep without a nightlight.
- After hearing the strange noises, she was afraid to go downstairs alone.
- He was afraid of heights and avoided jobs involving climbing or ladders.
- Many people are afraid to speak in public, fearing embarrassment or ridicule.