/fraɪt/
fright
BrE /fraɪt/
NAmE /fraɪt/
[U]
a feeling of fear
to cry out in fright
He was shaking with fright.
fearterror ◇ panic ◇ alarm ◇ fright
These are all words for the bad feeling you have when you are afraid.
fear the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when sth bad might happen, or when a particular thing frightens you：
(a) fear of flying
She showed no fear.
terror a feeling of extreme fear：
Her eyes were wild with terror.
panic a sudden feeling of great fear that cannot be controlled and prevents you from thinking clearly：
I had a sudden moment of panic.
alarm fear or worry that sb feels when sth dangerous or unpleasant might happen：
The doctor said there was no cause for alarm.
fright a feeling of fear, usually sudden：
She cried out in fright.
fear or fright?
Fright is a reaction to sth that has just happened or is happening now. Use fear, but not fright, to talk about things that always frighten you and things that may happen in the future.：
I have a fright of spiders.
his fright of what might happen
Patterns
a fear/terror of sth
in fear/terror/panic/alarm/fright
fear/terror/panic/alarm that…
to be filled with fear/terror/panic/alarm
a feeling of fear/terror/panic/alarm
➡ see also stage fright
[C]
an experience that makes you feel fear
You gave me a fright jumping out at me like that.
I got the fright of my life.
look a ˈfright
(old-fashioned, BrE)
to look ugly or ridiculous
take ˈfright (at sth)
(formal)
to be frightened by sth
The birds took fright and flew off.