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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

fright

fryt

Fright (noun) means a sudden, strong feeling of fear. Example: “The loud bang gave her quite a fright.”

noun
1
A sudden, strong feeling of fear.
"The loud bang gave her quite a fright."
"He nearly jumped out of his skin with fright."
2
Informal: someone or something that looks alarming or ridiculous.
"With her hair sticking up, she looked an absolute fright."
verb
1
To frighten; to cause fear in someone.
"The thunder frighted the horses."

How to use fright

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sudden burst of fear, or, informally, someone whose appearance is startling.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
give someone a fright jump with fright

Word forms

more fright comparative, frighted past tense, frights plural, frights singular, most fright superlative

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Fill the gap

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The loud bang gave her quite a _____.

Etymology

From Old English fyrhto, "fear, dread, trembling," related to a Proto-Germanic root for fear.

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for fright

See all rhymes for fright →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fright” mean?

The word “fright” means a sudden, strong feeling of fear. In plain terms, a sudden burst of fear, or, informally, someone whose appearance is startling.

How do you pronounce “fright”?

“Fright” is pronounced fryt (/fɹaɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “fright” in a sentence?

Here is “fright” used in a sentence: “The loud bang gave her quite a fright.”

What part of speech is “fright”?

Depending on how it is used, “fright” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “fright” come from?

The word “fright” comes from Old English. From Old English fyrhto, "fear, dread, trembling," related to a Proto-Germanic root for fear.

Is “fright” a common word?

“Fright” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “fright” have?

“Fright” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, strong feeling of fear.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial