dread
to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of: to dread death.
to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience: I dread going to big parties.
Archaic. to hold in respectful awe.
to be in great fear.
terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.
a person or thing dreaded.
dreads, Informal. dreadlocks.
Informal. a person who wears dreadlocks.
Archaic. deep awe or reverence.
greatly feared; frightful; terrible.
held in awe or reverential fear.
Origin of dread
1synonym study For dread
Other words for dread
Opposites for dread
Other words from dread
- dread·a·ble, adjective
- dread·ness, noun
- pre·dread, noun, verb (used with object)
- un·dread·ed, adjective
- un·dread·ing, adjective
Words Nearby dread
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use dread in a sentence
The name that most Republicans seem both to expect and dread to consider running is Vito Fossella.
The Felon Who Wouldn’t Leave Congress | Ben Jacobs, David Freedlander | December 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA few worries, to be sure, but not that cousin of depression and anxiety, dread.
Awaiting the Grand Jury, Dread in Ferguson and America | Gene Robinson | November 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTdread is the feeling I get when something bad seems to be on the way, and I know that there's not a damn thing I can do about it.
Awaiting the Grand Jury, Dread in Ferguson and America | Gene Robinson | November 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe specter of this virus fills some of our most stalwart souls with unreasoning dread even when it is no immediate threat.
People will testify they were cured of dread diseases when they prayed to Romero.
Why Pope Francis Wants to Declare Murdered Archbishop Romero a Saint | Christopher Dickey | August 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
There is always in the background of my mind dread lest help should reach the enemy before we have done with Sedd-el-Bahr.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonBefore the dread significance of these things became clear, a bugle-call rang out.
The Red Year | Louis TracyGray returned no answer, moving restlessly up and down before the door in a fever of excitement and dread.
Dope | Sax RohmerIt was evident that the dread of another period of prison life was strong upon the trembling wretch.
The Garret and the Garden | R.M. BallantyneIn one word, to the whole worship of God the soul that clings to His Covenant will cordially bind itself in his dread presence.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
British Dictionary definitions for dread
/ (drɛd) /
to anticipate with apprehension or terror
to fear greatly
archaic to be in awe of
great fear; horror
an object of terror
slang a Rastafarian
archaic deep reverence
literary awesome; awe-inspiring
Origin of dread
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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