From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishafraida‧fraid /əˈfreɪd/ ●●● S1 W2 adjective [not before noun] 1 FRIGHTENEDfrightened because you think that you may get hurt or that something bad may happen SYN scaredbe/feel afraid There’s no need to be afraid.afraid of something Many children are afraid of the dark.afraid of somebody I was a little afraid of him when I first met him.afraid of doing something Some old people are afraid of going out alone.afraid to do something Zoe was afraid to go back into the house.► see thesaurus at frightenedRegisterIn everyday English, people often say scared rather than afraid: I’m scared of heights.2 WORRIEDworried that something bad will happen as a result of your actionsafraid (that) He was afraid that the other kids would laugh at him. She was half afraid that he would say no (=a little afraid).afraid of doing something I didn’t tell her because I was afraid of upsetting her.afraid of something The government was afraid of the reaction from the public.afraid to do something Don’t be afraid to ask for help.3 → afraid for somebody/something4 → I’m afraidGRAMMAR: Comparisonafraid, frightened, scared• You feel afraid of someone or something: A lot of people are afraid of snakes. ✗Don’t say: afraid about something• You feel afraid to do something: I was afraid to tell anyone.• You can use the same patterns with frightened and scared: I was frightened of my father. She was too scared to talk.worried• You feel worried about someone or something: I was worried about my father.• You feel worried by something that has happened: Many people were worried by the news.
Examples from the Corpus
afraid• Now that he could do nothing, he felt afraid.• I could see she was afraid.• For centuries, no one had come along who could make him afraid.• Billy was afraid his aunt would punish him if he owned up.• I am afraid I don't know his second name, but I have been his friend since he was a boy.• Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you.• I didn't tell anyone, because I was afraid of being punished.• I have learned not to be afraid of fire.• He had a terrible temper and everyone was afraid of him.• It's amazing how many people are afraid of spiders.• We were afraid that this proud and energetic man might be forced to lie there paralyzed and helpless until his death.• I am afraid there will be a good deal of suffering among the poor this winter.• She was afraid to speak up in front of all these important people.• He was not afraid to throw less-touted Charlie Garner into the running-back mix.• I was afraid to turn around and look at all the others being kept out.afraid to do something• We have been all around Britain to put to them the intimate questions teachers and parents were too afraid to ask.• She was tense, almost afraid to breathe, almost afraid to meet his gaze.• Most women are basically too afraid to leave.• Could he be afraid to put them into words?• Bennett called her chicken, said she was afraid to race the newcomer.• Maybe-and this he feared more than anything-he would be afraid to seize such a moment when it came.• Gays afraid to speak out thank her for speaking for them.• We were afraid to use the buckets behind one of the partitions as we did during the air raids.afraid to do something• We have been all around Britain to put to them the intimate questions teachers and parents were too afraid to ask.• She was tense, almost afraid to breathe, almost afraid to meet his gaze.• Most women are basically too afraid to leave.• Could he be afraid to put them into words?• Bennett called her chicken, said she was afraid to race the newcomer.• Maybe-and this he feared more than anything-he would be afraid to seize such a moment when it came.• Gays afraid to speak out thank her for speaking for them.• We were afraid to use the buckets behind one of the partitions as we did during the air raids.Origin afraid (1300-1400) Past participle of affray “to frighten” ((14-19 centuries)), from Old French affreer; → AFFRAY 