fret

To fret means to worry a lot or feel uneasy about something. It is more than a brief moment of concern; it suggests a nervous state that stays with you. You might fret over an exam, a loved one's health, or even a small plan that may go wrong. The word often gives the sense of pacing, fussing, or turning the same thought over and over in your mind. It can also mean to wear away something slowly or rub at it until it becomes damaged.

People usually fret about something, but they can also simply fret, meaning they are generally anxious or restless. In everyday English, this emotional sense is by far the most common.

To fret is to feel worried, uneasy, or bothered, often for a long time and often about something that has not happened yet. It describes a state of repeated concern, where the mind keeps returning to the same trouble. If someone frets all day about a presentation, a journey, or a family problem, they are not just mildly concerned. They are turning it over in their mind again and again, often becoming restless or upset.

This is the most common modern use of the word. It can appear in phrases such as "fret about it," "fret over it," or simply "don't fret." Compared with worry, fret often suggests a more nervous, fussy, or wearing kind of concern. It can also affect other people, as when constant fretting makes the mood in a room tense.

The word also has other meanings. It can mean to wear away, chafe, or erode through rubbing or constant pressure. For example, rope may fret a wooden edge, or water may fret stone over time. As a noun, a fret is one of the raised metal bars on the neck of a guitar or similar instrument, used to help set the note. In older or more specialized writing, fret can also refer to ornamental carved patterns, especially in the phrase "fretwork."

Across these uses, the idea is often the same: something is being worn down, rubbed, or troubled, whether that is a person's peace of mind, the surface of an object, or the strings and fingerboard of an instrument.