WordValedread
great fear of something in the future
In more detail
1. (verb) to fear something that might happen in the future
2. (noun) a strong fear or worry about something that might happen
Examples
- 1. I dread going to the dentist next week.
- 2. She felt a sense of dread when she saw the storm clouds.
How to use dread
Dread implies a deep, visceral fear of something anticipated, often something unpleasant or inevitable. It is stronger and more emotional than simple worry or concern, and typically applies to significant events or situations. Unlike fear, which can apply to present dangers, dread is specifically about future possibilities.
Common phrases
- dread the thought of
- dread doing something
- with a sense of dread
- dread what will happen
- fill someone with dread
Synonyms
fear · apprehend · worry about · be anxious about · anticipate with alarm
Opposites
anticipate eagerly · look forward to
Word family
dreadful (adjective) · dreadfully (adverb) · dreaded (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use dread with an infinitive without 'to' (e.g., 'I dread go to the dentist' instead of 'I dread going to the dentist'); the gerund or noun form is required.
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