dread
dread — verb
1. to experience strong fear or worry about something that you expect to happen, es
to experience strong fear or worry about something that you expect to happen, especially something unpleasant
Élise dreaded her driving test because she had not practiced enough.
dread + noun object for a specific feared event
Many students dread taking exams at the end of the school year.
dread + -ing form of verb
The Watanabe family dreaded that the storm would damage their new house.
Maeve dreaded going to the dentist even for a simple check-up.
"I dread the moment when I have to give my speech," Cyrus told his classmate.
- fear
more general; 'fear' can refer to any level of anxiety while 'dread' implies stronger, more persistent worry
- be terrified of
emphasizes extreme fear, while 'dread' focuses more on anxious anticipation
- be afraid of
broader and less intense than 'dread', which carries a sense of prolonged worry
- look forward to
to feel pleased about something that will happen
- welcome
to be glad about an event or situation
文法句型
dread + noun
dread + -ing
dread + that-clause
用法筆記
Can be followed by a noun object (dread + something), an -ing form (dread doing something), or a that-clause (dread that something will happen). The -ing form is the most common pattern in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. said when you avoid imagining or considering a situation because the truth might
said when you avoid imagining or considering a situation because the truth might be very unpleasant
"I dread to think what the city will look like after the flood," said the mayor.
dread to think + wh-clause (fixed expression)
Harper dreaded to think how much the car repairs would cost.
The teacher dreaded to think what had happened to the missing student.
"I dread to think what my parents will say when they see my grades," said Lara.
- not want to imagine
less idiomatic but conveys the same idea of mental avoidance
文法句型
dread to think + wh-clause
dread to think + what/how much
用法筆記
Only used with the verbs 'think' or 'imagine' in the fixed pattern 'dread to think/imagine + wh-clause'. Cannot be used with other to-infinitive verbs (*I dread to go, *I dread to see).
常見錯誤
dread — noun
1. a powerful anxious feeling that something bad is going to occur, especially when
a powerful anxious feeling that something bad is going to occur, especially when you cannot prevent it
The villagers lived in constant dread of the volcano erupting again.
in constant dread of + -ing
A sense of dread filled Defne's chest as she opened the letter.
sense of dread + concrete bodily reaction
Children often feel dread on the night before the first day at a new school.
The thought of public speaking fills many people with dread.
Ayana felt a sudden dread when she saw the dark clouds moving toward the beach.
- terror
more intense and sudden; 'terror' implies immediate danger while 'dread' focuses on anticipation
- apprehension
milder and more formal than 'dread', suggesting nervousness rather than intense fear
- horror
focuses on shock and disgust at something already happening, rather than future worry
- calm
a state of peace and relaxation
- reassurance
the feeling that everything will be okay
文法句型
fill with dread
sense of dread
in dread of
feel dread
用法筆記
Typically uncountable. Common patterns include 'fill (somebody) with dread', 'a sense of dread', 'in dread of (something)', and 'a feeling of dread'.
常見錯誤
2. a state of anxious waiting, worried that an unwanted event will occur, often exp
a state of anxious waiting, worried that an unwanted event will occur, often expressed through the phrasal pattern 'in dread of' or 'live in dread of'
Eve lived in dread of her boss calling her into the office on a Friday afternoon.
live in dread of + -ing form
The whole team waited in dread of the final results being announced.
Apinya's dread of flying grew worse every time she watched news about plane accidents.
"I am in dread of what the doctor might discover," Rafael admitted to his wife.
The Chen family lived in dread of receiving bad news from the hospital.
- confidence
a feeling of trust that things will turn out well
文法句型
in dread of + noun/-ing
live in dread of + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in the phrasal patterns 'in dread of (something)' or 'live in dread of (something)'. Unlike the general 'strong fear' sense, this sense is specifically about ongoing, anticipatory worry tied to a recurring situation.
常見錯誤
3. an informal shortening of dreadlocks — a hairdo where sections of hair are twist
an informal shortening of dreadlocks — a hairdo where sections of hair are twisted together into long, thick rope-like strands
The singer wore her dread in a neat bun for the award ceremony.
wore her dread — possession for hairstyle
The shopkeeper had long grey dread that reached down to his waist.
Many young people choose to style their dread with colorful beads and metal bands.
Chiara's grandmother helped her wash and care for her new dread.
- dreadlocks
the full, more formal term for this hairstyle
- locs
an even shorter informal variant used within the community
文法句型
have/wear dread
grow dread
用法筆記
Informal shortening of 'dreadlocks'. Used mainly in casual conversation and fashion contexts; 'dreadlocks' is more formal. Often takes plural verb agreement: 'Her dread are getting long.'
常見錯誤
dread — adjective
1. causing a strong feeling of fear or worry; deeply alarming
causing a strong feeling of fear or worry; deeply alarming
The family received the dread news that their uncle had been in a car accident.
dread + news for feared information
A dread silence fell over the courtroom as the judge prepared to read the verdict.
Christopher prepared for a dread battle that everyone knew would cost many lives.
The villagers heard a dread howling sound coming from the cave late at night.
Jin's face turned pale at the dread possibility that the letter contained news of his father's illness.
- welcome
received with pleasure and relief
文法句型
dread + noun
用法筆記
Used attributively (before a noun) only, not predicatively. Compare: 'dread news' but NOT '*The news is dread.' Use 'dreadful' or 'terrible' for predicative position: 'The news is dreadful.'
常見錯誤
2. placed before a noun to show that the thing named is unpleasant, annoying, or un
placed before a noun to show that the thing named is unpleasant, annoying, or unwelcome
The children were sent to do the dread task of cleaning the garage.
dread + task for an unwelcome chore
Filing tax returns is a dread chore that most people put off until the last minute.
For Andrei, Monday mornings were a dread time of the week.
"I have to attend yet another dread meeting about the budget," Sivan complained.
文法句型
dread + noun [unwelcome thing]
用法筆記
Like the 'causing fear' sense, this is attributive only (before a noun). It has a slightly informal, almost humorous tone — using it signals mild annoyance rather than real fear. Compare: 'dread meeting' (annoying) vs 'dread news' (truly alarming).