become fearful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become fearful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a change in emotional state where someone starts to feel fear or anxiety about a situation. Example: "As the storm approached, the children began to become fearful of the loud thunder and flashing lightning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Wal-Mart will continue to deny that crime in their parking lots is an issue---but what the retailer's shareholders must fear most is that shoppers will become fearful every time they leave a Wal-Mart alone.

Huffington Post

He may become fearful, acting strange as an outcome of a fear of people and surroundings.

WikiHow

The minority groups would quite likely become fearful about their status, and as we have seen elsewhere, such fear can lead to civil wars and ethnic cleansing.

The New York Times

Europeans have become fearful.

The Guardian - Opinion

They become fearful of what might happen.

The Guardian - Sport

"You become fearful just hearing the word".

The Guardian - Arts

"You don't want to become fearful of losing your job.

The New York Times

"Many men, when they hear about a diagnosis of prostate cancer, become fearful," Dr. Wilt said.

The New York Times

Now British warplanes buzz overhead, and the Jewish residents become fearful.

The New York Times - Books

"She has become fearful... of the microblog's power to create a sort of mob justice".

The New York Times

Pistorius says: He had already become fearful she was in the toilet cubicle.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the subject of "become fearful" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify who is becoming fearful and why.

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "become fearful" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "grow anxious", "start to fear", or "get frightened" to enhance readability and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become fearful" functions as a linking verb phrase, indicating a change in state or condition. It connects a subject to the adjective "fearful", describing the process of someone or something transitioning into a state of fear. Ludwig provides examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

5%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "become fearful" is a versatile phrase used to describe the transition into a state of fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely applicable, and is often found in News & Media contexts. When writing, consider using synonyms like "grow afraid" or "start to fear" to avoid repetition. Pay attention to the tense of your sentence when using "become" or "became". By understanding these nuances, you can effectively communicate the development of fear in various contexts and tailor your language according to the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grow afraid

Uses 'grow' instead of 'become', implying a gradual increase in fear.

start to fear

Emphasizes the initiation of feeling fear, using 'start' instead of 'become'.

turn scared

Replaces "fearful" with "scared", a more informal synonym.

get frightened

Uses 'get' to indicate a change in state to 'frightened', a synonym for fearful.

be overcome with fear

Indicates being overpowered by fear, showing a more intense emotional reaction.

descend into fear

Suggests a downward progression into a state of fear.

fall into fear

Emphasizes the suddenness of experiencing fear.

develop a fear of

Focuses on the creation of a specific fear, rather than a general feeling.

find oneself fearing

Highlights the involuntary nature of the experience of fear.

begin to dread

Shifts the focus to anticipation of negative future events causing fear.

FAQs

How can I use "become fearful" in a sentence?

You can use "become fearful" to describe a transition into a state of fear. For instance, "The children "become fearful" during thunderstorms" or "Investors "become fearful" when the market is volatile".

What are some alternatives to "become fearful"?

Alternatives include phrases like "grow afraid", "start to fear", "get frightened", or "turn scared", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "become fearful" or "became fearful"?

The choice between "become fearful" and "became fearful" depends on the tense of your sentence. Use "become fearful" for present or future tenses (e.g., "People often "become fearful" when they are uncertain") and "became fearful" for past tenses (e.g., "She "became fearful" after the incident").

What is the difference between "become fearful" and "be fearful"?

"Become fearful" describes the process of transitioning into a state of fear, while "be fearful" describes an existing state of fear. For example, "They "become fearful" when the lights go out" (transition), versus "They "are fearful" of the dark" (existing state).