terrify
gb/tˈɛɹəfˌaɪ/ us/tˈɛɹəfˌaɪ/
B1
English
~ 1900
megrémít, halálra rémít
VERB
B1
1
megrémít
B1
Usage pattern:
to terrify [someone]
The loud explosion terrified everyone in the building.
A hangos robbanás mindenkit megrémített az épületben.
The thought of speaking in front of a large audience terrifies him.
Már a gondolat is megrémíti, hogy nagy közönség előtt kell beszélnie.
Horror movies are designed to terrify viewers.
The idea of losing her job terrified her.
A sudden scream in the dark can terrify even the bravest person.
Learner examples
The big dog terrified the little boy.
A nagy kutya megrémítette a kisfiút.
The storm terrified the children.
A vihar megrémítette a gyerekeket.
That movie will terrify you.
The loud sound terrified my cat.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'terrify' with 'terrorize'. 'Terrify' means to make someone very afraid in a single instance, while 'terrorize' means to cause fear repeatedly over time.
Meaning
Cause intense fear
Collocations
absolutely terrify
|terrify children
|terrify the public
|terrify witnesses
Synonyms
frighten (More general and can mean less intense fear than 'terrify'.)
|
scare (Informal and covers a wide range of fear levels, not always as strong as 'terrify'.)
|
petrify (Emphasizes making someone so afraid they cannot move or act.)
Antonyms
reassure (Gives comfort and removes fear, the opposite emotional effect.)
|
calm (Reduces fear or anxiety, counteracting terror.)
Themes
emotions
|danger
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone feel very scared.
To make someone feel extremely afraid.
Grammar
Dictionary form
terrify
IPA
GB/tˈɛɹəfˌaɪ/
US/tˈɛɹəfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
ter - rify (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ter)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: terrify
- 3rd Person Singular: terrifies
- Present Participle: terrifying
- Past: terrified
Word family
Expressions
be terrified of
1/bˈi tˈɛɹəfˌaɪd əv/
fixed phrase
Feel intense fear of something
To be very afraid of something or someone.
Examples
- She is terrified of spiders.
- I was terrified of flying until I took lessons.
be terrified that
1/bˈi tˈɛɹəfˌaɪd ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
Fear that something will happen
To be very afraid that something bad will happen.
Examples
- He was terrified that he would fail the exam.
- I'm terrified that we might get lost in the mountains.