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# dread

«dread» in Mova's school dictionary: **To feel very worried or afraid about something that is…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (dread, dreads, dreaded, dreading); noun (dread; uncountable); adjective (old/literary: dread)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (verb) To feel very worried or afraid about something that is going to happen. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#m1)

2) (noun) A strong feeling of fear about the future. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#m2)

3) (adjective, literary) Causing great fear: «the dread pirate». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#m3)

4) (informal, noun plural «dreads») Short for dreadlocks, a hairstyle of long twisted strands. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In stories dread builds suspense: «She was filled with dread.» In everyday life children dread tests, injections or the dentist. Phrases: «dread doing something», «I dread to think», «filled with dread», «a sense of dread», «full of dread».

### examples

- I dread going to the dentist. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x1)
- He was filled with dread as he opened the creaky door. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x2)
- I dread to think what the kitchen looks like after the party. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x3)
- She dreaded the spelling test all week. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x4)
- A sense of dread crept over the campers in the dark. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x5)
- (literary) The dread dragon guarded the cave. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x6)
- (informal) He has long dreads tied back with a band. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x7)
- Then a great dread fell upon her. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/#x8)

### note

Past «dreaded». Pattern: «dread + -ing» or «dread to think». Adjective «dreadful» means very bad. «Dread» rhymes with «bed».

### In the corpora

- [A «maybe» can hide a «definitely» when someone dreads giving bad news.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/453-lied-to-by-someone-you-love/49/)
- [Dreading something can make the body release the stress hormone cortisol beforehand, and a sore tummy is a common sign of that worry.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/medicine/68-the-coach-who-shouts-and-parents-on-the-touchline/16/)
- [Then I said unto you: 'Dread not, neither be afraid of them.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/DEU.28/)
- [For I was in dread of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/DEU.285/)
- [The LORD of hosts, Him shall ye sanctify; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.175/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «dread» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dread/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.