to fear
289
7.4
- verb
- /fɪr/
- Formal
:
temer
- I fear that I was wrong
And as Elizabeth had feared, Huxley doesn't come through.
- And as Elizabeth had feared, Huxley doesn't come through.
- I got a spin and I fear that it's headed your way.
- And with respect, I, I fear that's what's happening.
- Because if I lay on my side, I fear that.
- This kind of arms race was exactly what Oppenheimer had feared.
Examples
-
Unless the Church shows its universality now, I fear the parts will not be seen as parts.
Academic text (2013) -
I fear that the storm may cause significant damage to the town.
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Oh, yes, I fear you have a long journey.
-
And I fear that it will not survive the winter.
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I fear I can entrust this to no one but you.
-
And with respect, I, I fear that's what's happening.
-
Spartacus takes too keen an interest in our plans, I fear.
-
Sir, I do not appeal to your sense of philanthropy for I fear I waste my words in vain.
-
He said, "I fear we might have missed the last bus to the city."
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As we approached the abandoned house, I fear I felt a chill run down my spine.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To feel nervous or afraid about possible problems
∞
2.0
Feel afraid about what might happen to someone or something
149
4.8
To feel very afraid about something that may happen
2
7.0
To feel worried about something that may happen
Idioms
9
7.9
A strong feeling of being afraid and respectful of someone who could punish you
- Informal
3
8.2
Make people very afraid and make them respect you by showing power
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
1
4.1
A river in southeast North Carolina that flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Fear
How Certain
Surface Forms
Etymology
Fear in phrases like 'I fear' comes from the old verb meaning 'to be afraid', and people use it politely to say they think something bad is likely or true. So this formal use is just a careful way of saying 'I am worried' or 'I think so'.