Frighten

/ˈfraɪtən/

Meaning & Definition

verb

To make someone feel scared or afraid.

The loud thunderstorm frightened the children.

To cause a feeling of fear in someone.

The horror movie was designed to frighten its audience.

To scare someone to a specific degree.

She didn't mean to frighten him with her sudden appearance.

Middle English frighten, from fright + -en

frighten away

to scare off or deter someone or something

frighten the daylights out of

to scare someone very much

frighten off

to make someone or something go away out of fear

fright

a sudden feeling of fear

frightening

causing fear

frightened

feeling fear

spook

That haunted house really spooked me.

be spooked

She got spooked by the shadow in the corner.