frighten
word
/ˈfɹaɪtən/
FRY-tuhn
/fɹˈaɪtən/
FRY-tuhn
Definition
To make someone feel afraid or suddenly shocked. It is usually used when a person, thing, or event causes fear in someone else.
Usage & Nuances
Common in both everyday and written English. Pattern: 'frighten someone' or 'be frightened of/by something'. 'Scare' is more common in casual speech; 'frighten' sounds a little stronger or more formal. Don't confuse 'frighten' (cause fear) with 'frightened' (feeling fear).
Spanish: asustar - atemorizarPortuguese (BR): assustar - amedrontarPortuguese (PT): assustar - atemorizarChinese (Simplified): 吓唬 - 使害怕Chinese (Traditional): 嚇唬 - 使害怕Hindi: डराना - भयभीत करनाArabic: يُخِيف - يُرْعِبBengali: ভীত করা - ভয় দেখানোRussian: пугатьJapanese: 怖がらせるVietnamese: làm hoảng sợ - làm sợKorean: 겁주다 - 놀라게 하다Turkish: korkutmakUrdu: ڈرا دیناIndonesian: menakuti - menakut-nakuti
Example Sentences
Loud noises frighten the baby.
basic
Don't frighten the cat.
basic
The dark room frightened me.
basic
I didn't mean to frighten you—I was just joking.
natural
Stories like that frighten people more than they should.
natural
What really frightens me is how quiet everything gets before a storm.
natural