verb
frighten
To make someone feel afraid.
Sudden loud noises frighten my dog, especially during thunderstorms.
Etymology
The verb-forming ending means to cause a state. Frighten therefore means to cause fright in someone, turning the fear noun into an action.
More examples
- That scary movie frightened me more than I expected.
- The thought of losing her job frightens her.
- Don't shout—you might frighten the birds away.
Forms
frighten · frightens · frightened · frightening
fright noun — A sudden, strong feeling of fear.