fear */*/*/

I UK [fɪə(r)] / US [fɪr] noun
Word forms "fear":
singular fear plural fears

1) [uncountable] the feeling that you have when you are frightened

Edward knew it was dangerous, but he felt no fear.

fear of:

She eventually managed to overcome her fear of the dark.

in fear:

Martin screamed in fear.

be filled with fear:

I was suddenly filled with fear.

shake/tremble with fear:

She was shaking with fear.

•

Collocations:
Verbs frequently used with fear as the object ▪  conquer, dismiss, overcome

2) [countable] something bad or unpleasant that you are afraid might happen

A meeting was set up to try to allay workers' fears.

fear about:

There are fears about the safety of the nuclear plant.

fear of:

This latest case has raised fears of an epidemic.

fear for:

He expressed fears for his missing wife's safety.

fear that:

Sandbags were placed along the shore amid fears that the lake would overflow.

•

Collocations:
Verbs frequently used with fear
▪  allay, alleviate, assuage, calm, dispel, ease, soothe

3) [countable/uncountable] the possibility that something bad will happen

fear of:

There's no fear of becoming bored in a place like this.

fear (that):

I don't think there's any fear that that will happen.

•

for fear of (doing) something — in case you make something bad happen

I didn't tell Susan about our meeting for fear of upsetting her.

Scientists reject a total ban for fear it will undermine efforts to stop the spread of malaria.

- no fear

- put the fear of God into someone

See:

strike I

II UK [fɪə(r)] / US [fɪr] verb [transitive]
Word forms "fear":
present tense I/you/we/they fear he/she/it fears present participle fearing past tense feared past participle feared

1) to feel worried and afraid that something bad will happen or has already happened

The refugees fear persecution if they return to their own country.

One person is still missing, feared dead.

fear (that):

Health experts fear that a flu epidemic will hit Britain this winter.

2) to feel afraid of someone or something because they might harm you

He was hated and feared by his colleagues.

fear to do something:

neighbourhoods where police feared to go

•

fear the worst (for) — to feel worried that something very bad will happen or has already happened

They were very late, and I was beginning to fear the worst.

Local shopkeepers fear the worst if the new supermarket is built.

I fear (that)/so/not — spoken formal used for saying that you believe something bad has happened or might happen and that you are sad about it

I fear that we may never know what really happened.

"Will he help us?" "I fear not."

- fear not

Phrasal verbs:

- fear for

See:

never