1
: filled with fear or apprehension
afraid of machines
was afraid for his job
2
: filled with concern or regret over an unwanted situation
I'm afraid I won't be able to go.
3
: having a dislike for something
She's not afraid of hard work. [=she's not unwilling to work hard]
Examples of afraid in a Sentence
Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago.
Recent Examples on the Web
This is very similar to Elliott’s recent campaign at Starbucks, another iconic brand facing popularity, competition and image challenges with an outspoken founder not afraid to give his opinion.
—
Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
Mayor O'Connor said some people in Pittsburgh are afraid to call 911.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Ashley Tisdale is not afraid to speak her mind.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Andrea was afraid of the negative influence in school.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afraid. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
afraid
adjective
ə-ˈfrād 
Southern also -ˈfre(ə)d
1
: filled with fear or dread
afraid of snakes
2
: filled with concern or regret
afraid she might be late
3
: having a dislike for something
not afraid to work hard
Etymology
Middle English affraied "filled with fear," from affraien "to frighten," from early French affraier, effreer "to frighten" — related to fray entry 1
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