Frighten: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：scare (frighten)

frighten 🔊

/ˈfraɪtən/

To make someone feel afraid, often suddenly.

Frighten expression: startled young person in library

scare 🔊

➕

/sker/

To cause someone to feel sudden fear or alarm.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'fright' (fear) + verb suffix '-en'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'fright' is a sudden scare; add '-en' to make someone feel it.

📖 Example

The friendly but large dog unexpectedly barked, which frightened the visiting child for a moment. 🔊 The friendly but large dog unexpectedly barked, which scared the visiting child for a moment.

🔗 Collocations

frighten someone away – To scare someone so much that they leave or stop approaching.

frighten the life out of someone – To scare someone very severely.

frighten off – To cause someone or something to retreat or stay away due to fear.

🔄 Synonyms

scare (v.) – To cause someone to feel fear, often suddenly.

terrify (v.) – To cause someone to feel extreme fear.

startle (v.) – To cause someone to experience a sudden shock or surprise, often involving fear.

🚫 Antonyms

calm (v.) – To make someone quiet and peaceful, free from fear.

reassure (v.) – To say or do something to remove someone's fears or doubts.

soothe (v.) – To gently calm someone who is upset or afraid.

🌱 Derivatives

frightened (adj.) – Feeling fear or anxiety.

frightening (adj.) – Causing fear or alarm.

frighteningly (adv.) – In a way that causes fear.

📖 Cultural Story

The word originates from Old English 'fyrhto' (fear), and the suffix '-en' was added to form a verb meaning 'to cause fear'.