dread
gb/dɹˈɛd/ us/dɹˈɛd/
B1
English
~ 2500
rettegés, retteg, félelmetes, rettegett
NOUN
B2
1
rettegés
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels dread about [something]
She felt a sense of dread before the exam results were announced.
Rettegés fogta el, mielőtt kihirdették a vizsgaeredményeket.
The approaching storm filled the villagers with dread.
A közeledő vihar rettegéssel töltötte el a falusiakat.
He looked at the surgery date with growing dread.
There was a feeling of dread in the air before the big game.
I can't shake this dread about tomorrow's meeting.
Learner examples
I felt dread before my test.
Rettegést éreztem a dolgozatom előtt.
He has dread about flying on planes.
Retteg a repüléstől.
She looked at the dog with dread.
We had dread before the big storm.
They feel dread when they hear loud noises.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dread' with 'dead' due to similar pronunciation; also confuse 'dread' (noun) with 'afraid' (adjective).
Meaning
Strong fear about the future
Collocations
sense of dread
|fill with dread
|look with dread
|approach with dread
Synonyms
fear (More general; can refer to immediate or future danger, while 'dread' often implies anticipation.)
|
apprehension (Slightly milder and more formal; suggests unease rather than intense fear.)
Antonyms
anticipation (Positive expectation, opposite in emotional tone to 'dread'.)
|
eagerness (Strong positive desire for something to happen.)
Themes
emotions
|mental health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A strong feeling of fear about something that might happen.
A strong feeling of fear or deep anxiety about a possible event or situation, often one that is unpleasant or threatening.
VERB
B1
2
retteg
B2
Usage pattern:
to dread [something/doing something]
I dread going to the dentist.
Rettegek attól, hogy fogorvoshoz kell mennem.
She dreaded telling her parents the bad news.
Rettegett attól, hogy elmondja a szüleinek a rossz hírt.
Many students dread public speaking.
He dreads flying because of turbulence.
They dreaded the moment they would have to say goodbye.
Learner examples
I dread going to school on Monday.
Rettegek attól, hogy hétfőn iskolába kell mennem.
She dreads taking the test.
Retteg a teszt megírásától.
He dreads speaking in front of people.
We dread hearing bad news.
They dread meeting new people.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'dread' without an object; it usually needs a direct object or gerund ('dread doing').
Meaning
Feel great fear about future event
Collocations
dread going
|dread the thought
|dread meeting
|dread hearing
Synonyms
fear (More general; can refer to current danger as well as future events.)
|
worry about (Less intense; focuses on concern rather than strong fear.)
Antonyms
look forward to (Positive anticipation, opposite in tone to 'dread'.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To feel strong fear about something that might happen.
To feel great fear or deep anxiety about a possible event or situation, often one that is unpleasant or threatening.
C1
LITERARY
3
félelmetes
B1
rettegett
B2
They prepared for the dread winter ahead.
Felkészültek a rájuk váró rettegett télre.
The soldiers faced the dread enemy without flinching.
A katonák rezzenéstelenül néztek szembe a rettegett ellenséggel.
A dread silence fell over the crowd.
Learner examples
The dread noise made us afraid.
A félelmetes zaj megijesztett minket.
They feared the dread storm.
Féltek a félelmetes vihartól.
We saw the dread animal in the forest.
Meaning
Causing great fear
Collocations
dread fate
|dread power
Synonyms
fearsome (Suggests inspiring fear through appearance, strength, or reputation.)
Antonyms
comforting (Causing feelings of safety and reassurance.)
Themes
emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Making people feel very afraid or worried.
Causing great fear or apprehension; dreadful.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dread
IPA
GB/dɹˈɛd/
US/dɹˈɛd/
Syllables & stress
dread (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dread)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dread
Noun
- Base: dread
- Plural: dread, dreads
Verb
- Base: dread
- 3rd Person Singular: dreads
- Present Participle: dreading
- Past: dreaded
Word family
Forms
dreads
noun
dreading
verb
dreaded
verb
Core family
dreadful
adjective B1
dreadfully
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
dreadfulness
noun
Expressions
dread to think
1/dɹˈɛd tə θˈɪŋk/
fixed phrase
Fear imagining something bad
To not want to imagine something because it would be very unpleasant or scary.
Examples
- I dread to think what will happen if we fail.
- She dreads to think how much this will cost.
fill with dread
1/fˈɪl wˈɪθ dɹˈɛd/
fixed phrase
Cause someone strong fear about future event
To make someone feel strong fear about something that might happen.
Examples
- The idea of losing her job filled her with dread.
- The thought of speaking in public fills me with dread.
with dread
1/wˈɪθ dɹˈɛd/
fixed phrase
Feeling strong fear about something coming
Feeling strong fear about something that might happen soon.
Examples
- He opened the letter with dread.
- They watched the dark clouds gather with dread.