Terrify

Pronunciation: /ˈterəˌfaɪ/

Definitions of terrify

verb to cause extreme fear or terror in someone

Example Sentences

A1 The loud noise from the fireworks terrifies my dog.

A2 Watching horror movies can terrify some people.

B1 The idea of public speaking terrifies me.

B2 The thought of failing the exam terrifies the students.

C1 The prospect of losing their jobs terrifies many employees.

C2 The possibility of a natural disaster terrifies residents of the area.

Examples of terrify in a Sentence

formal The horror movie was so terrifying that I had to cover my eyes.

informal I'm terrified of spiders, they creep me out so much.

slang That haunted house was absolutely terrifying, I couldn't wait to get out of there.

figurative The thought of failing the exam terrifies me more than anything else.

Grammatical Forms of terrify

• past tense: terrified
• plural: terrifies
• comparative: more terrified
• superlative: most terrified
• present tense: terrifies
• future tense: will terrify
• perfect tense: has terrified
• continuous tense: is terrifying
• singular: terrify
• positive degree: terrifying
• infinitive: terrify
• gerund: terrifying
• participle: terrifying

Origin and Evolution of terrify

First Known Use: 1300 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'terrify' originated from the Latin word 'terrere' which means to frighten or scare.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'terrify' has retained its meaning of causing intense fear or terror, with no significant evolution in its usage.