B1verb1K

Frighten

UK /["/ˈfraɪtn/","/ˈfraɪtnz/","/ˈfraɪtnd/","/ˈfraɪtnɪŋ/"]/US /["/ˈfraɪtn/","/ˈfraɪtnz/","/ˈfraɪtnd/","/ˈfraɪtnɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to make somebody suddenly feel afraid

In simple words: To make someone feel scared.

Examples

  • The loud thunder frightened the children during the storm.
  • I didn’t mean to frighten you when I walked in unexpectedly.
  • The horror movie was designed to frighten its audience.
  • She tried to frighten her friends with spooky stories, but they weren't scared.
  • The sudden appearance of the snake frightened him so much that he jumped back.

Usage notes

Commonly used when describing causing fear. Suitable in both written and spoken English but more prevalent in storytelling or when discussing emotional reactions.

Grammar pattern

frighten + object

Memory hint

Sounds like 'fright' + 'ten' — imagine a scary monster counting to ten.

Collocations

  • really
  • almost
  • easily
  • want to
  • not mean to
  • try to
  • frighten somebody to death
  • frighten the life out of somebody

Synonyms

  • scare
  • terrify
  • alarm
  • intimidate

Antonyms

  • calm
  • reassure
  • comfort

Common mistakes

  • Using 'frighten' as a noun (should be used as a verb).
  • Confusing 'frighten' with 'scare' (though similar, 'frighten' can imply a stronger emotional reaction).
  • Incorrectly alternating between 'frightened' and 'frightening' without understanding the context.