DREAD - Definition & Meaning for Kids

Simple definitions and word synonyms for kids.

Part of speech: Noun

fearful expectation or anticipation

Example: the student looked around the examination room with apprehension

Part of speech: Verb

be afraid or scared of

Example: be frightened of; I fear the winters in Moscow; We should not fear the Communists!

The word "dread" comes from Old English drǣdan, which comes from Middle English dreden. Many other languages have similar words:

read – A related word in the same word family.

adread – A related word in the same word family.

Most of English's most common words—'the', 'be', 'have'—come from Old English roots.