dread
verb [ T ] uk/dred/ us/dred/
C2 对…感到恐惧;害怕;担心
to feel extremely worried or frightened about something that is going to happen or that might happen
He's dreading the exam - he's sure he's going to fail. 他很担心考试——他觉得自己肯定过不了。
[ + -ing verb ] I'm dreading having to meet his parents. 因为不得不见他的父母，我很害怕。
dread to thinkC2 不愿想;不敢想
used to say that you do not want to think about something because it is too worrying
I dread to think what would happen if he was left to cope on his own. 我不敢想象，如果让他自己去应付会怎么样。
- More examples
- We are dreading the idea of having my son's friends to stay.
- I dread to think what they say about me behind my back.
- That night as he dreamed, the warrior was confronted by the enemy he dreaded most.
- Although I was absolutely dreading telling Dad, he was actually very understanding when I told him.
- What is now happening in the country is what I dreaded most - it is descending into anarchy and civil war.
dread
noun [ U ] uk/dred/ us/dred/
恐惧，害怕;忧虑
a strong feeling of fear or worry
The prospect of working full-time fills me with dread. 可能要全职工作，这让我很担忧。
I live in dread of bumping into her in the street. 我每天都害怕在街上碰见她。
dread
adjective [ before noun ] formal ukus
可怕的；令人畏惧的，令人生畏的
The dread spectre of civil war looms over the country. 内战的可怕阴影笼罩在该国上空。
dreaded
adjective [ before noun ] humorous uk/ˈdred.ɪd/ us/ˈdred.ɪd/
令人害怕的，令人恐惧的
My dreaded cousin is coming to stay! 我那可怕的表弟要来和我一起住了！