verb
frighten
FREYE-tuhn
verb
1
To make someone feel afraid or alarmed; to scare.
"The loud thunder frightened the dog."
"Don't sneak up on me like that — you frightened me!"
2
To become afraid.
"She frightens easily at the sight of spiders."
How to Use Frighten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo scare someone, or to become scared.
Common pairings
frighten someone
easily frightened
frighten away
Word Forms
frightened past tense, frightens singular
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The loud thunder _____ the dog.
Etymology
From the older English word "fright" (fear) plus the verb-forming ending "-en", the same pattern seen in "sadden" or "harden".