Pronunciation: /drɛd/

Definitions of dread

noun a feeling of intense fear or apprehension

Example Sentences

A1 I feel dread every time I have to go to the dentist.

A2 The children's faces were filled with dread as they approached the haunted house.

B1 The dread of failing the exam kept him up at night.

B2 She couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that something bad was going to happen.

C1 The sense of dread in the room was palpable as they waited for the verdict.

C2 Despite her outward calm, she was consumed by a deep sense of dread about the future.

verb to anticipate with great apprehension or fear

Example Sentences

A1 I dread going to the dentist.

A2 She dreads speaking in public.

B1 Many people dread Monday mornings.

B2 He dreads the thought of having to move to a new city.

C1 The team dreaded the upcoming match against the undefeated champions.

C2 The soldiers dreaded the possibility of being sent into battle.

Examples of dread in a Sentence

formal The feeling of dread washed over her as she realized she had forgotten her presentation materials.

informal I always feel a sense of dread before going to the dentist.

slang I have such dread about this exam tomorrow, I didn't study at all.

figurative The dread of failure loomed over him like a dark cloud, making it hard to focus on anything else.

Grammatical Forms of dread

past tense

dreaded

plural

dreads

comparative

dreader

superlative

dreadest

present tense

dread

future tense

will dread

perfect tense

have dreaded

continuous tense

is dreading

singular

dread

positive degree

dreadful

infinitive

to dread

gerund

dreading

participle

dreaded

Origin and Evolution of dread

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'dread' originated from the Old English word 'drædan' which means to fear or be in awe of.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'dread' has evolved to encompass a sense of deep fear or apprehension, often associated with something unknown or threatening.