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DictionaryfrightSudden fear
noun / verb

fright

FRYTE/fraɪt/

Sudden intense fear, or causing such fear.

She recoils in fright as a snake emerges from beneath the pot.

A woman recoils in sudden fright as a snake emerges from beneath a garden pot she has just tilted.
Etymology
frightOld Englishfear, dread, trembling

Old English fyrhtu covered fear and dread generally. As fear became the usual English word for that feeling, fright remained especially associated with sudden terror.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain166:08
I was in a terrible fright and kept as far as I could from the edge
1700s Satire: Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels (Audiobook)

More examples

  • The sudden noise gave him a fright.
  • The old tale was meant to fright its listeners.
  • The children suffered several frights during the storm.

Forms

fright · frights · frighted · frighting

Similar words

fear
Fear need not be sudden.
alarm
Alarm often includes awareness that action may be needed.