horror
gb/hˈɔɹɚ/ us/hˈɔɹɚ/
A2
English
~ 4300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
Intense fear or shock
A very strong feeling of being afraid or upset.
Usage pattern:
feel [horror] at [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'horror' with 'terror' or 'panic'. 'Horror' can include disgust and shock, not just fear.
Synonyms
terror (Often suggests fear caused by danger or violence.)
|
dread (Implies a deep fear about something that may happen.)
Antonyms
calm (A state free from fear or agitation.)
|
delight (A feeling of great pleasure instead of fear or disgust.)
Collocations
in horror
|look of horror
|scream in horror
|fill with horror
|shock and horror
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She watched in horror as the building collapsed.
- The news filled him with horror.
- He froze in horror when he saw the snake.
- Her eyes widened in horror at the sight.
- The horror on his face was unmistakable.
Learner examples
- I felt horror when I saw the fire.
- She looked at the man in horror.
- The child screamed in horror.
- He was full of horror after the accident.
- They ran away in horror.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Frightening entertainment genre
A movie, book, or story made to scare people.
Usage pattern:
a [horror] movie/novel/story
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'horror' as a genre with 'horrible' meaning very bad.
Synonyms
thriller (Often exciting and suspenseful but not always frightening.)
Antonyms
comedy (A genre intended to make people laugh instead of scare them.)
Collocations
horror movie
|horror story
|horror novel
|classic horror
|horror genre
Themes
entertainment
|media
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- We watched a horror movie last night.
- He's a fan of classic horror novels.
- The film is considered one of the best horrors of the decade.
- She can't stand watching horror films alone.
- The story had all the elements of a good horror.
Learner examples
- I do not like horror movies.
- He reads many horror books.
- She saw a horror film with her friends.
- We watched a horror story on TV.
- My sister likes horror novels.
Noun
B2
event
3
Extremely unpleasant event
A very bad and upsetting thing that happens.
Usage pattern:
the horrors of [war/crime/etc.]
Synonyms
atrocity (Usually refers to an extremely cruel act, especially in war.)
Antonyms
joy (A positive and happy experience instead of something terrible.)
Collocations
the horrors of war
|real-life horror
|horror of famine
|daily horrors
Themes
events
|emotions
|daily_life
Examples
- They spoke about the horrors of war.
- The hurricane survivors described their horror.
- Living through that disaster was a horror he'll never forget.
- The horrors of famine are unimaginable.
- Her diary records the daily horrors of life in the camp.
Learner examples
- We saw the horrors of war on TV.
- The storm was a real horror for the town.
- They told us about the horrors they faced.
- The fire was a great horror for the family.
- He remembers the horrors from his childhood.
Grammar
Dictionary form
horror
IPA
GB/hˈɔɹɚ/
US/hˈɔɹɚ/
Syllables & stress
hor - ror (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hor)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: horror
- Plural: horror, horrors
Word family
Expressions
horror story
1/hˈɔɹɚ stˈɔɹi/
fixed phrase
Frightening story or account
A scary story, or a report about something very bad that happened.
Examples
- He told us a horror story about his trip to the jungle.
- The newspaper printed a horror story about hospital care.
in horror
1/ˈɪn hˈɔɹɚ/
fixed phrase
In a state of fear or shock
Feeling very afraid or shocked when something happens.
Examples
- She gasped in horror when she saw the accident.
- They watched in horror as the house burned.
scream in horror
1/skɹˈim ˈɪn hˈɔɹɚ/
fixed phrase
Cry out in fear or shock
To make a loud sound because you are very afraid or shocked.
Examples
- The children screamed in horror when the lights went out.
- She screamed in horror at the sight of blood.
the horrors of [something]
1/ðə hˈɔɹɚz əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Extremely unpleasant aspects
The very bad parts of something like war, crime, or disease.
Examples
- The book describes the horrors of war in detail.
- She experienced firsthand the horrors of poverty.