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B1 Verb #49 most common 7 min read

frighten

Top 49

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips frighten in 30 Seconds

Explanation frighten in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'frighten' is a word you might learn to describe basic feelings. You use it to talk about things that make you feel 'scared' or 'afraid'. It is usually used in simple sentences like 'The dog frightens me' or 'I am frightened'. Teachers use it to help students express their emotions about common things like the dark, big animals, or loud noises. At this stage, the focus is on understanding that 'frighten' is an action (verb) and 'frightened' is a feeling (adjective). You might learn it alongside words like 'happy', 'sad', and 'angry'. It is important to know that 'frighten' is the word for the thing that makes you feel bad fear. You might see it in simple children's stories about monsters or thunder. Even though it's a bit harder than 'scare', it's a very useful word for talking about your life and what you don't like.

At the A2 level, you start to use 'frighten' in more varied ways. You might use it in the past tense ('The movie frightened me yesterday') or to describe things that happen regularly ('Big storms always frighten my cat'). You are also learning to use it with 'away' or 'off', like 'The loud noise frightened the birds away'. You begin to see the difference between 'frighten' (the verb) and 'frightening' (the adjective for the thing). For example, 'The storm was frightening' and 'The storm frightened me'. You are building your ability to describe experiences more clearly. You might use it when talking about travel, like being frightened of flying, or when talking about school, like being frightened of a big test. It's a step up from 'scare' and helps you sound more natural in English.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'frighten' in both the active and passive voice. You understand that 'I was frightened by the news' is a common way to express your reaction. You also start to use it metaphorically, not just for physical fear. For example, you might say 'The idea of moving to a new country frightens me'. You are learning more complex sentence structures, like 'It frightens me to think about the future'. You can also distinguish 'frighten' from similar words like 'startle' or 'alarm'. At this level, you use 'frighten' to discuss more abstract topics, such as social issues, economic changes, or personal challenges. You are also becoming aware of common collocations like 'frighten easily' or 'frighten someone to death'. This word is essential for passing B1 exams where you need to describe feelings and personal experiences in detail.

At the B2 level, you use 'frighten' with greater precision and nuance. You understand its place in different registers—knowing it's slightly more formal than 'scare' but appropriate for most professional and academic writing. You can use it in complex grammatical structures, such as 'Having been frightened by the earlier incident, she was reluctant to return'. You also start to use idiomatic expressions involving the word, like 'frighten the life out of someone' or 'frighten the horses'. You can compare and contrast 'frighten' with more intense verbs like 'terrify', 'intimidate', or 'daunt' to express exact levels of fear. In discussions about literature or media, you might analyze how a director uses lighting to frighten the audience. Your vocabulary is becoming more sophisticated, and 'frighten' is a key tool for expressing a wide range of human emotions and reactions.

At the C1 level, 'frighten' is a word you use effortlessly, often choosing it for its specific rhythmic or stylistic qualities in a sentence. You are aware of its etymological roots and how it relates to the noun 'fright'. You can use it in highly formal contexts, such as 'The prospect of systemic failure continues to frighten market analysts'. You understand the subtle differences in connotation between 'frighten', 'unnerve', 'disconcert', and 'appall'. You can use it in advanced grammatical constructions, including cleft sentences ('What frightens me most is the lack of transparency') or with complex modal verbs. You are also familiar with its use in various dialects and its historical usage in literature. At this level, you don't just use the word; you use it to create specific effects in your writing and speech, showing a deep mastery of English nuance.

At the C2 level, your use of 'frighten' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can use it in creative writing to evoke specific atmospheres or in academic papers to describe psychological phenomena. You are comfortable with all its idiomatic and metaphorical extensions. You might use it in ironic or understated ways, or in very specific technical contexts. You understand how the word has evolved and can recognize its use in archaic or dialectal forms. You can discuss the phonetics of the word and its stress patterns in different English accents. For a C2 learner, 'frighten' is part of a vast arsenal of words for fear, and you know exactly when it is the most effective choice to convey a particular shade of meaning, whether you are writing a legal brief, a poem, or a technical manual.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

frighten in 30 Seconds

Frighten is a verb meaning to cause fear or make someone afraid, often due to a sudden or threatening event.
It is commonly used in both active ('The noise frightened me') and passive ('I was frightened') forms.
The word is slightly more formal than 'scare' and is frequently used with phrasal verbs like 'frighten away'.
It can describe physical fear (animals, storms) or abstract fear (failure, economic changes, future prospects).

The verb frighten is a core English word used to describe the act of causing fear or apprehension in another person or animal. At its heart, it is a transitive verb, meaning it typically requires an object—you frighten someone or something. It captures that sudden jolt of adrenaline when something unexpected happens, like a loud bang in a quiet room, or the creeping sense of dread when facing a dangerous situation. While often used for physical scares, it also extends to psychological or emotional intimidation. For instance, a difficult exam might frighten a student, or the prospect of change might frighten a community. It is more formal than 'scare' but less intense than 'terrify' or 'petrify'.

Active Usage: When you are the cause of the fear. 'The sudden thunder managed to frighten the kittens under the sofa.'
Passive Usage: When you are the one feeling the fear. 'I was frightened by the look in his eyes.'
Metaphorical Usage: Describing economic or social trends. 'High interest rates frighten potential homebuyers.'

The horror movie was designed specifically to frighten the audience from the very first scene.

In daily conversation, 'frighten' is versatile. You might hear it in a medical context where a doctor warns that a procedure shouldn't frighten the patient, or in a nature documentary explaining how predators frighten their prey into making a mistake. It is a word that bridges the gap between the physical sensation of a racing heart and the mental state of worry. It is also frequently used in the negative to offer comfort: 'Don't let the size of the task frighten you; we will take it step by step.'

Did the loud noise frighten you while you were sleeping?

Social Context: Used to describe intimidation in social hierarchies. 'The boss's temper tended to frighten the new interns.'

It doesn't frighten me to speak in front of large crowds anymore.

Mastering 'frighten' involves understanding its grammatical patterns. Most commonly, it follows the [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object] structure. The subject is the source of fear, and the object is the person or thing feeling the fear. For example, 'The spider (subject) frightened (verb) Sarah (object).' However, 'frighten' is very frequently used in the passive voice: 'Sarah was frightened by the spider.' In this case, the focus shifts to the person experiencing the emotion.

Transitive Pattern: Something frightens someone. 'The dark shadows in the hallway frighten the children.'
Passive Pattern: Someone is frightened by something. 'I was frightened by the sudden change in his tone of voice.'

You shouldn't frighten your little brother like that; it's mean.

Another important pattern is using 'frighten' with an infinitive to describe what the fear prevents someone from doing, or what they are afraid to do. 'The height of the cliff frightened him from looking down.' More commonly, we use the adjective form 'frightened' with 'to' + [verb]: 'He was too frightened to move.' We also use 'frighten' with 'away' or 'off' to describe scaring someone so much they leave. 'The barking dog frightened the burglar away.'

The aggressive marketing tactics might frighten away potential customers.

Phrasal Verbs: 'Frighten off' and 'Frighten away' are used when the fear causes someone to retreat or stop an action.

The noise was enough to frighten off the birds in the garden.

'Frighten' appears in a variety of real-world contexts, from literature and news to everyday conversation. In news reporting, it is often used to describe the impact of events on the public. For example, 'The sudden drop in the stock market frightened investors.' In literature, authors use it to build atmosphere and describe the internal state of characters. It is a staple of the thriller and horror genres, where the primary goal is to frighten the reader or viewer.

In the News: 'Rising crime rates continue to frighten residents in the downtown area.'
In Literature: 'The howling wind seemed to frighten even the oldest trees in the forest.'

Don't frighten the children with those ghost stories before bedtime.

You will also hear it in parental warnings or advice. Parents might tell their children, 'Don't frighten the cat,' or 'There's nothing to frighten you here.' In professional settings, it might be used to describe the risks of a project: 'The complexity of the software might frighten some of our less tech-savvy users.' It is also common in idioms and fixed expressions, such as 'frighten the life out of someone,' which is a hyperbolic way of saying you scared them very badly.

The scale of the disaster began to frighten even the most experienced rescue workers.

In Sports: 'The underdog team's early goal didn't frighten the champions; it only made them play harder.'

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing the verb 'frighten' with the adjective 'frightened' or 'frightening'. Remember: 'frighten' is the action, 'frightening' describes the thing causing the fear, and 'frightened' describes the person feeling the fear. You would say, 'The movie was frightening,' and 'I was frightened,' but never 'I was frightening' (unless you mean you were the one scaring others!). Another common error is using 'frighten' as an intransitive verb without an object. You cannot simply say 'I frighten' to mean 'I am afraid'; you must say 'I am frightened' or 'I feel frightened.'

Confusing Participles: Incorrect: 'The dog was very frightening of the storm.' Correct: 'The dog was very frightened of the storm.'
Missing Object: Incorrect: 'Loud noises frighten.' Correct: 'Loud noises frighten me' or 'Loud noises are frightening.'

It is a common mistake to say 'I frighten' when you mean 'I am afraid'.

Learners also sometimes confuse 'frighten' with 'afraid'. 'Afraid' is an adjective and cannot be used as a verb. You cannot 'afraid someone'. You must 'frighten someone'. Similarly, 'frighten' is often used with the preposition 'by' in the passive voice ('frightened by'), whereas 'afraid' is used with 'of' ('afraid of'). Mixing these up is a very common B1-level error.

Be careful not to frighten the birds away while you are taking photos.

Preposition Errors: Incorrect: 'I was frightened of the noise.' (Though common in casual speech, 'by' is more standard for the cause of a specific event).

While 'frighten' is a great all-purpose word, English offers many synonyms that can add precision to your writing. 'Scare' is the most common alternative, but it is more informal. 'Terrify' and 'petrify' are much stronger, suggesting a fear so intense that the person cannot move or think clearly. 'Startle' is used specifically for a sudden, brief shock, like someone jumping out from behind a door. 'Intimidate' is often used when the fear is caused by someone's power, size, or confidence rather than a physical threat.

Frighten vs. Scare: 'Scare' is informal and common in speech. 'Frighten' is slightly more formal and often used in written English.
Frighten vs. Startle: 'Startle' is for a sudden, momentary surprise. 'Frighten' can describe a lasting state of fear.
Frighten vs. Terrify: 'Terrify' is much stronger. If you are frightened, you are afraid. If you are terrified, you are extremely afraid.

The loud bang didn't just frighten her; it completely terrified her.

In academic or professional contexts, you might use 'alarm' or 'daunt'. 'Alarm' suggests a fear that something bad is happening or about to happen, often leading to action. 'Daunt' is used when a task or prospect seems so difficult that it makes you feel less confident or slightly afraid of failing. Choosing the right word depends on the intensity of the fear and the context in which it occurs.

Don't let the technical terms frighten you; they are simpler than they sound.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'fright' is related to the Old High German word 'forhta', which also means fear. The '-en' suffix is a common way in English to turn adjectives or nouns into verbs, like 'darken' or 'strengthen'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈfraɪ.tən/

US /ˈfraɪ.tən/

The stress is on the first syllable: FRIGH-ten.

Rhymes With

brighten tighten lighten heighten enlighten Triton whiten Titan

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'gh' (it is silent).
Putting the stress on the second syllable.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'frightened' (adding an extra 'ed' sound).
Missing the 'n' sound at the end.
Pronouncing the 'i' as a short 'i' like in 'bit'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in literature and news; easy to recognize.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct use of active/passive and participles.

Speaking 3/5

Useful for expressing emotions and reactions.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation but can be confused with 'frightened'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

fear scared afraid dark noise

Learn Next

terrify intimidate startle alarm daunt

Advanced

unnerve disconcert appall petrify consternation

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs

The spider frightened Mary.

Passive Voice

Mary was frightened by the spider.

Participial Adjectives

The frightening (cause) spider / The frightened (feeling) girl.

Phrasal Verbs

The dog frightened the cat away.

Infinitive Phrases

It frightens me to see the damage.

Examples by Level

Does the dark frighten you?

Does the dark make you afraid?

Present simple question.

The big dog frightens the cat.

The big dog makes the cat afraid.

Subject-Verb-Object.

Loud noises frighten me.

Loud noises make me feel fear.

Plural subject.

Don't frighten the baby!

Don't make the baby cry with fear.

Imperative negative.

I don't want to frighten you.

I do not want to make you afraid.

Infinitive after 'want'.

The monster in the book frightens him.

The monster makes him afraid.

Third person singular -s.

Did I frighten you?

Did I make you jump?

Past simple question.

Spiders frighten my sister.

My sister is afraid of spiders.

Simple transitive verb.

The thunder frightened the birds away.

The noise made the birds fly away.

Phrasal verb 'frighten away'.

She was frightened by the sudden noise.

The noise made her feel fear.

Passive voice with 'by'.

He tried not to frighten the deer.

He tried to be quiet so the deer wouldn't run.

Negative infinitive.

The ghost story frightened all the children.

The story made the kids afraid.

Past simple tense.

Does flying frighten you?

Are you afraid of planes?

Gerund as subject.

I was too frightened to speak.

I was so scared I couldn't say anything.

Adjective 'frightened' + to-infinitive.

The mask frightened the little girl.

The girl was afraid of the mask.

Simple past.

Don't let the dog frighten you; he is friendly.

Don't be afraid of the dog.

Causative 'let'.

The prospect of failing the exam frightened her.

Thinking about failing made her nervous.

Abstract subject.

It frightens me to think about what could have happened.

Thinking about the danger makes me feel fear.

Dummy 'it' subject.

The news of the accident frightened the whole community.

Everyone in town felt afraid after the news.

Transitive verb with collective object.

They were frightened into silence by the threat.

The threat made them too scared to talk.

Passive voice + 'into' preposition.

The scale of the project might frighten some investors.

The big project might make investors worried.

Modal verb 'might'.

She was easily frightened by small changes in routine.

Small changes made her feel afraid quickly.

Adverb 'easily' modifying the passive.

The movie was intended to frighten, not to educate.

The goal of the movie was to cause fear.

Infinitive of purpose.

I didn't mean to frighten you when I walked in.

I didn't want to surprise you.

Negative past simple.

The sudden drop in stock prices frightened many small investors.

The market crash caused fear among people with stocks.

Specific economic context.

He was frightened of losing his job during the recession.

He feared unemployment.

Adjective 'frightened' + 'of' + gerund.

The sheer height of the mountain was enough to frighten the novice climbers.

The mountain was so high it made beginners afraid.

Complex noun phrase as subject.

Don't frighten the horses with such radical proposals.

Don't cause a scandal or upset people.

Idiomatic usage.

The witness was frightened into changing her testimony.

Fear made the witness tell a different story.

Passive voice indicating coercion.

It is frightening to realize how much we depend on technology.

It causes fear to think about our tech dependence.

Gerund 'frightening' as adjective.

The barking dog frightened off the potential intruder.

The dog scared the person away.

Phrasal verb 'frighten off'.

She was frightened by the intensity of his reaction.

His strong reaction made her feel afraid.

Passive voice with abstract noun.

The implications of the new law frightened civil rights activists.

The results of the law made activists very worried.

Formal/Academic context.

He was frightened by the sheer emptiness of the desert.

The vast nothingness caused a sense of dread.

Passive voice with existential subject.

The complexity of the global economy can frighten even the most seasoned analysts.

The difficult economy makes experts feel unsure or afraid.

Modal 'can' for possibility.

She was frightened to the core by the ghostly apparition.

She was extremely scared.

Idiomatic 'to the core'.

The threat of nuclear war frightened an entire generation.

A whole group of people lived in fear.

Historical/Sociological context.

It's a frightening thought that we might be alone in the universe.

The idea of being alone causes fear.

Attributive adjective 'frightening'.

The suddenness of the attack frightened the soldiers into a retreat.

The quick attack made the soldiers run back.

Causative structure.

The possibility of failure didn't frighten him; it motivated him.

Fear of failing made him work harder.

Contrastive sentence structure.

The existential dread that frightened the philosophers of the 19th century remains relevant today.

The deep fear felt by old thinkers is still here.

Relative clause.

The sheer audacity of the plan frightened the more conservative members of the board.

The bold plan made the careful people afraid.

Nuanced vocabulary ('audacity').

He was frightened by the realization that his power was an illusion.

Knowing he had no real power made him afraid.

Passive voice with cognitive realization.

The haunting melody seemed to frighten the very air in the room.

The music created a very scary atmosphere.

Literary personification.

The prospect of infinite time frightened her more than the thought of death.

Living forever was scarier than dying.

Comparative structure with abstract concepts.

The sudden silence in the forest was more frightening than the previous noise.

The quiet was scarier than the sound.

Comparative adjective.

The dictator used public executions to frighten the population into submission.

He used fear to control people.

Infinitive of purpose with political context.

The rapid pace of technological change can frighten those who feel left behind.

Fast changes make some people feel afraid.

Sociological observation.

Common Collocations

frighten easily

frighten someone away

frighten the life out of

frighten to death

frighten off

be easily frightened

frighten someone into

frighten the horses

badly frightened

nothing to frighten

Common Phrases

Don't be frightened.

— A common way to tell someone not to feel fear.

Don't be frightened; it's just a small spider.

It's nothing to be frightened of.

— Used to reassure someone that a situation is safe.

The exam is simple; it's nothing to be frightened of.

Frightened of your own shadow.

— Describes someone who is extremely nervous or easily scared.

He's so jumpy lately, he's frightened of his own shadow.

Frighten the wits out of someone.

— To scare someone very badly or suddenly.

That scream frightened the wits out of me!

Too frightened to move.

— Describes a state of paralysis caused by fear.

When the bear appeared, I was too frightened to move.

Frighten someone half to death.

— A hyperbolic expression for causing great fear.

You frightened me half to death by hiding there!

A frightening prospect.

— A future event that causes worry or fear.

The prospect of surgery is a frightening one.

Frightened out of one's mind.

— To be extremely scared to the point of not thinking clearly.

She was frightened out of her mind during the earthquake.

Don't let it frighten you.

— Advice to remain brave in a difficult situation.

The new job is hard, but don't let it frighten you.

Frightened by the implications.

— Worried about the future results of an action.

Scientists are frightened by the implications of climate change.

Often Confused With

frighten vs afraid

'Afraid' is an adjective, 'frighten' is a verb. You can't 'afraid' someone.

frighten vs scare

'Scare' is more informal than 'frighten' but means almost the same thing.

frighten vs startle

'Startle' is only for sudden, short surprises; 'frighten' can be for longer fear.

Idioms & Expressions

"frighten the horses"

— To cause a public scandal or upset people who have traditional ideas.

His new art style is bold, but it won't frighten the horses.

British English

"frighten the life out of someone"

— To scare someone very intensely.

The car crash frightened the life out of her.

Informal

"frighten someone to death"

— To scare someone extremely badly (hyperbole).

I was frightened to death when I lost my passport.

Informal

"frighten the wits out of someone"

— To scare someone so much they lose their presence of mind.

The sudden explosion frightened the wits out of the guards.

Neutral

"be frightened of one's own shadow"

— To be very easily scared or very nervous.

Ever since the accident, he's been frightened of his own shadow.

Informal

"frighten someone into submission"

— To use fear to make someone obey or give up.

The bully tried to frighten the younger kids into submission.

Neutral

"frighten someone off"

— To make someone stay away by scaring them.

The high entrance fee frightened off many tourists.

Neutral

"frighten someone out of their skin"

— To give someone a very sudden and intense scare.

You frightened me out of my skin by jumping out like that!

Informal

"scare/frighten the pants off someone"

— To scare someone very badly.

That ghost story frightened the pants off the kids.

Slang

"frighten someone away"

— To cause someone to leave because they are afraid.

The aggressive dog frightened the visitors away.

Neutral

Easily Confused

frighten vs frightened

Both are forms of the same word.

Frighten is the verb (action); frightened is the adjective (feeling).

The movie will frighten you. You will be frightened.

frighten vs frightening

Both are forms of the same word.

Frighten is the verb (action); frightening is the adjective (cause).

The storm frightens me. It is a frightening storm.

frighten vs fright

Related noun.

Fright is the noun (the feeling); frighten is the verb (the action).

The ghost gave me a fright. The ghost frightened me.

frighten vs terrify

Similar meaning.

Terrify is much stronger and more intense than frighten.

A spider might frighten you, but a lion would terrify you.

frighten vs alarm

Similar meaning.

Alarm often implies a warning or a need for action, not just fear.

The smoke alarm frightened the cat but alarmed the owner.

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] frightens [Object].

The dog frightens me.

[Subject] was frightened by [Object].

I was frightened by the noise.

It frightens [Object] to [Verb].

It frightens me to drive in the snow.

[Subject] frighten [Object] away/off.

The cat frightened the mouse away.

[Subject] frighten [Object] into [Gerund].

The threat frightened him into leaving.

[Subject] is too frightened to [Verb].

She was too frightened to scream.

What frightens [Object] is [Noun Phrase].

What frightens me is the lack of time.

[Participial Phrase], [Subject] [Verb].

Having been frightened once, he never returned.

Word Family

Nouns

fright (the feeling of fear)

frightfulness (the quality of being scary)

Verbs

frighten (to cause fear)

Adjectives

frightened (feeling fear)

frightening (causing fear)

frightful (very bad or unpleasant)

afraid

fearful

scary

terrified

alarmed

How to Use It

frequency

Common in both spoken and written English, especially in narrative contexts.

Common Mistakes

I am frightening of dogs. → I am frightened of dogs.
You should use the -ed adjective to describe your own feeling of fear.
The movie frightened to me. → The movie frightened me.
'Frighten' is a transitive verb and does not need the preposition 'to' before the object.
Don't afraid the baby. → Don't frighten the baby.
'Afraid' is an adjective and cannot be used as a verb. Use 'frighten' instead.
The noise was very frightened. → The noise was very frightening.
Use the -ing adjective to describe the thing that causes the fear.
He frightens easily by thunder. → He is easily frightened by thunder.
In modern English, we usually use the passive voice to describe someone's reaction to a cause.

Tips

Passive Voice

Use 'be frightened by' when you want to emphasize the person who is feeling the fear rather than the thing causing it.

Stronger Alternatives

If someone is extremely scared, use 'terrify' or 'petrify' instead of 'frighten' to show the intensity.

Silent Letters

Remember that the 'gh' is silent. Focus on the 'FRY' sound at the beginning of the word.

Avoid Repetition

Instead of using 'frighten' multiple times, mix it up with 'scare', 'alarm', or 'startle' depending on the context.

Animals

When writing about nature or pets, 'frighten' is a very natural-sounding choice for describing their reactions.

Hyperbole

Use 'frighten to death' or 'frighten the life out of' to add emphasis in informal stories.

Frighten Into

Use the pattern 'frighten someone into [doing something]' to describe how fear can force someone to act.

Frightening vs Frightened

Always check if you are describing the cause (-ing) or the feeling (-ed). This is a very common test question!

Business Usage

In business, use 'frighten' to describe how market volatility or risks might affect investors or customers.

Word Endings

Listen carefully for the 'ed' at the end of 'frightened' to know if the speaker is talking about a feeling.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Fright' in the 'Night' that makes you 'Frighten' your 'Friend'. All these words rhyme and relate to the same feeling.

Visual Association

Imagine a person jumping out from behind a curtain with a 'V' for Verb on their chest, shouting 'BOO!' to frighten someone.

Word Web

fear scare ghost dark thunder jump heartbeat scream

Challenge

Try to use 'frighten' in a sentence about a weather event, then rewrite it using the passive voice 'frightened by'.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'frightenen', which comes from the noun 'fright'. The suffix '-en' was added to the noun to create a verb meaning 'to make' or 'to cause'.

Original meaning: To strike with fear or to terrify.

Germanic (Old English 'fyrhtu' meaning fear).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'frighten' to describe people from different backgrounds, as it can imply intimidation or a power imbalance.

In the UK, 'frighten the horses' is a common idiomatic way to discuss social propriety.

Alfred Hitchcock movies (designed to frighten) Stephen King novels (famous for frightening readers) The 'Jump Scare' trope in horror films

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weather

frightened by thunder
the storm frightened the animals
frightening lightning
frightened of the dark

Movies/Books

a frightening scene
designed to frighten
frightened the audience
frightening plot twist

Business

frighten investors
frighten away customers
frightened by the risk
frightening economic forecast

Animals

don't frighten the cat
frighten the birds away
the dog was frightened
frightened horse

Personal Feelings

it frightens me to think
I was frightened for my life
don't frighten me like that
frightened of failure

Conversation Starters

"Does the idea of public speaking frighten you at all?"

"What is the most frightening movie you have ever seen?"

"Do you think loud noises frighten animals more than humans?"

"Has a sudden change in your life ever frightened you?"

"What kind of things used to frighten you when you were a child?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time when a sudden noise frightened you. How did you react?

Write about a frightening experience you had while traveling.

Do you think it is okay for parents to frighten their children to keep them safe?

Discuss a global issue that frightens you and explain why.

How do you feel when you realize you have frightened someone else by accident?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is a regular verb. The past tense and past participle are both 'frightened'. For example: 'He frightened me yesterday' and 'I have been frightened before'.

Yes, but only if you mean that YOU are the one making other people feel afraid. If you are the one feeling fear, you must say 'I am frightened'.

'Scare' is more common in casual conversation, while 'frighten' is slightly more formal and often used in writing. They are interchangeable in most situations.

In the passive voice, we usually use 'by' for the cause: 'I was frightened by the noise'. However, we use 'of' as an adjective for general fears: 'I am frightened of spiders'.

The 'gh' is completely silent. The word is pronounced 'FRY-ten'. Do not try to make a 'g' or 'h' sound.

Usually no. It is almost always used for negative feelings of fear or worry. However, 'frightfully' can sometimes be used as an intensifier for positive things in old-fashioned British English, like 'frightfully good'.

It is a British idiom meaning to cause a scandal or to do something so unusual that it upsets traditional or conservative people.

Yes, it is very common to use 'frighten' when talking about animals being scared by noises or movements.

The noun form is 'fright'. For example: 'The loud bang gave me a fright'.

Technically yes, meaning 'to become afraid', but this is very rare and old-fashioned. In modern English, it is almost always transitive ('frighten someone').