fearing
Fearing (verb) means present participle of fear: feeling afraid of or worried about something. Example: “Fearing the traffic, they left an hour early.”
How to use fearing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe -ing form of "fear" — being afraid of or worried about something.
Word forms
Fearings plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the traffic, they left an hour early.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fearing
See all rhymes for fearing →Frequently asked questions
What does “fearing” mean?
The word “fearing” means present participle of fear: feeling afraid of or worried about something. In plain terms, the -ing form of "fear" — being afraid of or worried about something.
How do you use “fearing” in a sentence?
Here is “fearing” used in a sentence: “Fearing the traffic, they left an hour early.”
What part of speech is “fearing”?
“Fearing” is a verb.
Is “fearing” a common word?
“Fearing” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How is fearing used differently from fear in a sentence?
Fearing is the present participle of fear and is used to form continuous verb tenses or introduce a participial clause, as in "fearing the worst, she called the doctor." Fear itself is the base verb form, used as in "she feared the worst."
What does fearing for mean, as in fearing for one's life?
"Fearing for" is a common collocation meaning to be worried about the safety or wellbeing of someone or something, as in "fearing for his safety." It expresses concern about a potential negative outcome rather than fear of the thing itself.
Can fearing be followed directly by a clause?
Yes, fearing is often followed by a "that" clause, as in "fearing that the storm would worsen, they left early." This construction lets a participial phrase introduce the reason behind an action described later in the sentence.