Pronunciation: /freɪ/

Definitions of fray

noun A fight or battle

Example Sentences

A1 The cat got into a fray with the dog.

A2 The children's clothes were in a fray after playing outside.

B1 The political debate turned into a fray as tempers flared.

B2 The two rival gangs were involved in a fray that lasted for hours.

C1 The legal team prepared for the fray of the upcoming court case.

C2 The negotiations between the two countries ended in a diplomatic fray.

verb To unravel or become worn at the edge, typically through constant rubbing

Example Sentences

A1 The fabric of my shirt started to fray after multiple washes.

A2 I accidentally frayed the edge of my scarf while trying to cut it.

B1 The relationship between the two countries began to fray due to political disagreements.

B2 The constant arguments and misunderstandings caused their friendship to fray over time.

C1 The delicate balance of power in the region is beginning to fray, leading to potential conflicts.

C2 The intricate web of lies and deceit finally began to fray, revealing the truth behind the scandal.

Examples of fray in a Sentence

formal The fabric started to fray along the edges after multiple washes.

informal I need to mend this shirt before it starts to fray.

slang If you keep using that old rope, it's going to fray and snap.

figurative The constant arguments between the siblings caused their relationship to fray over time.

Grammatical Forms of fray

past tense

frayed

plural

frays

comparative

more fray

superlative

most fray

present tense

fray

future tense

will fray

perfect tense

have frayed

continuous tense

is fraying

singular

fray

positive degree

fray

infinitive

to fray

gerund

fraying

participle

frayed

Origin and Evolution of fray

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'fray' originated from Old French 'freier' meaning 'to rub, chafe'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'fray' evolved to also mean a fight or battle, often involving a struggle or conflict.