scared
skeh-uhd
Scared (adjective) means feeling fear; afraid. Example: “The kids were scared of the dark.”
adjective
1
Feeling fear; afraid.
"I’m scared I’ll miss the train."
"The child was really scared of the dark."
"The kids were scared of the dark."
"She was too scared to speak up in the meeting."
"I felt scared walking home alone down the dark street."
How to use scared
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling afraid or frightened.
Common pairings
scared of
scared stiff
get scared
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more scared, scareder
- Superlative
- most scared, scaredest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids were _____ of the dark.
Etymology
Formed from scare + -ed.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for scared
See all rhymes for scared →Frequently asked questions
What does “scared” mean?
The word “scared” means feeling fear; afraid. In plain terms, feeling afraid or frightened.
How do you pronounce “scared”?
“Scared” is pronounced skeh-uhd (/skɛ(ə)ɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “scared” in a sentence?
Here is “scared” used in a sentence: “The kids were scared of the dark.”
What part of speech is “scared”?
“Scared” is an adjective.
Is “scared” a common word?
“Scared” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between scared and afraid?
The two are very close in meaning and usually interchangeable. 'Scared' tends to sound more informal and often suggests a sudden fright, while 'afraid' can feel slightly more formal and also covers milder worry, as in 'I'm afraid I disagree.' In most everyday sentences either word works fine.
What is the difference between 'scared' and 'scarred'?
They look similar but mean different things. 'Scared' means feeling fear or frightened. 'Scarred', with two r's, means marked by a scar, whether a healed wound on the skin or lasting emotional damage. The spellings and pronunciations differ, so take care not to swap one for the other.
What is the opposite of scared?
Words expressing the opposite of scared include brave, fearless, unafraid, calm, confident and bold. Which one fits best depends on the sentence: 'unafraid' simply negates the fear, whereas 'brave' and 'fearless' suggest actively facing danger without being overcome by it, and 'calm' points more to composure.
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