dread
gb/dɹˈɛd/ us/dɹˈɛd/
B1
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
Strong fear about the future
A strong feeling of fear about something that might happen.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels dread about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dread' with 'dead' due to similar pronunciation; also confuse 'dread' (noun) with 'afraid' (adjective).
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.)
Collocations
sense of dread
|fill with dread
|look with dread
|approach with dread
Themes
emotions
|mental health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt a sense of dread before the exam results were announced.
- The approaching storm filled the villagers with dread.
- 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.
- He has dread about flying on planes.
- She looked at the dog with dread.
- We had dread before the big storm.
- They feel dread when they hear loud noises.
Verb
B1
action
2
Feel great fear about future event
To feel strong fear about something that might happen.
Usage pattern:
to dread [something/doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'dread' without an object; it usually needs a direct object or gerund ('dread doing').
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'.)
Collocations
dread going
|dread the thought
|dread meeting
|dread hearing
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I dread going to the dentist.
- She dreaded telling her parents the bad news.
- 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.
- She dreads taking the test.
- He dreads speaking in front of people.
- We dread hearing bad news.
- They dread meeting new people.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
Causing great fear
Making people feel very afraid or worried.
Synonyms
fearsome (Suggests inspiring fear through appearance, strength, or reputation.)
Antonyms
comforting (Causing feelings of safety and reassurance.)
Collocations
dread fate
|dread power
Themes
emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They prepared for the dread winter ahead.
- The soldiers faced the dread enemy without flinching.
- A dread silence fell over the crowd.
Learner examples
- The dread noise made us afraid.
- They feared the dread storm.
- We saw the dread animal in the forest.
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.