verb
A2
Elementary
terrify
TEH-rih-feye
Terrify (verb) means to frighten someone severely. Example: “The horror film terrified half the audience.”
verb
1
To frighten someone severely.
"The horror film terrified half the audience."
"Thunderstorms terrify our dog."
How to use terrify
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo scare someone badly.
Common pairings
terrify an audience
the thought terrifies me
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- terrifies
- Past tense
- terrified
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Thunderstorms _____ our dog.
Etymology
From Middle French terrifier, from Latin terrificare, "to frighten."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for terrify
See all rhymes for terrify →Frequently asked questions
What does “terrify” mean?
The word “terrify” means to frighten someone severely. In plain terms, to scare someone badly.
How do you pronounce “terrify”?
“Terrify” is pronounced TEH-rih-feye (/ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “terrify” in a sentence?
Here is “terrify” used in a sentence: “Thunderstorms terrify our dog.”
What part of speech is “terrify”?
“Terrify” is a verb.
Where does the word “terrify” come from?
The word “terrify” comes from Latin. From Middle French terrifier, from Latin terrificare, "to frighten.".
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