frighten

verb

FRY-tuhn/ˈfɹaɪ.tən/

Formsfrightens, frightening, frightened

2 meanings of frighten

1
verbtransitive
To make a person or animal feel fear, alarm, or fright.
The sudden gunshot frightened the horses into bolting across the field.
I didn't mean to frighten you with such grim news.
Similarscare, alarm, terrify, startle, spook
Oppositereassure, calm, soothe
2
verbintransitive
To come to feel fear or alarm.
Wild deer frighten at the slightest movement in the brush.
She frightened easily as a child, jumping at every shadow.
Similarscare, spook

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Origin

From Middle English *frightenen, formed from "fright" plus the suffix "-en".