frighten

To frighten someone is to make them feel fear, whether it comes from a sudden loud noise or a growing worry about what might happen. A creaky house, a dark figure, or even a stern warning can do it. Think of a little child scared by the dark, or a dog scared by thunder. Sometimes, something seems scary at first but turns out to be harmless.

The word suggests a real feeling of fear. It is more than just surprising someone; it means making them truly afraid. You might try not to frighten your little brother with ghost stories, or a bully might do it on purpose to smaller children. It can also mean to make someone back away from something: "Don't let the difficulties frighten you away from your dreams."

To frighten means to cause someone to feel fear, alarm, or dread. It is more than just startling someone; it suggests a real feeling of being scared. For example: "The sudden crash frightened the cat," or "He didn't want to frighten his wife with stories about his near-miss accident."

Frighten can be used in both literal and figurative ways. Literally, it describes causing fear through something real, like a scary movie, a dangerous situation, or a sudden noise. Figuratively, it can mean making someone not want to do something. "The high cost of tuition didn't frighten her away from applying to college" means the expense was not enough to stop her.

The feeling can vary a lot. A child might be frightened by a shadow on the wall, while an adult might be frightened by a serious medical diagnosis. The word often fits sudden or unexpected moments, but it can also describe fear that builds slowly.

You'll also see "frighten" used in phrases like "frightened to death," which is an exaggeration meaning extremely scared, or "don't let it frighten you," which can mean "don't be discouraged." It can also describe something meant to cause fear: "A haunted house is designed to frighten visitors."

So whether it is a jump scare, a looming threat, or a problem that makes someone hesitate, to frighten is to create fear and sometimes push someone away from action.