fret - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

fret

to be anxious about something minor or uncertainto be anxious about something minor or uncertain

Examples

She fretted about whether she had left the stove on before leaving the house.
He fretted about the small mistake he made at work, fearing it would cost him his job.
Don't fret over being a few minutes late; they won't mind.

Synonyms

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fret

Third Person

frets

Present Participle

fretting

Past Tense

fretted

Past Participle

fretted

1

to be anxious about something minor or uncertain

She fretted about whether she had left the stove on before leaving the house.
He fretted about the small mistake he made at work, fearing it would cost him his job.
Don't fret over being a few minutes late; they won't mind.
He fretted over what to wear to the party, worrying that he wouldn't fit in.

Synonyms:

2

to create a path or opening by gradually wearing down or eroding a surface

transitive

The constant traffic had fretted the road, creating visible grooves.
The river fretted the stone, carving a deep path through the valley.
The constant pressure of the wind fretted the cliffs, causing small cracks.

Synonyms:

3

to gradually erode or damage something through constant rubbing or biting

transitive

The constant movement of the rope began to fret the edges of the fabric.
Over time, the wind and rain fretted the stone monument.
The harsh sandpaper slowly fretted the surface of the table.
The ocean waves fretted the shoreline, slowly wearing away the cliff.
The rough fabric of the seatbelt fretted the upholstery over time.

Synonyms:

4

to be so tight that it rubs or presses uncomfortably

transitive

The shoes were too small and fretted her feet after only a few minutes.
The waistband of the jeans fretted his stomach, making it difficult to move.
The collar of the shirt fretted his neck, causing irritation.
The watch strap fretted his wrist, leaving a red mark.
The gloves fretted his hands because they were too small.

Synonyms:

5

to decorate or adorn something, usually wood or metal, with intricate patterns or designs

transitive

The craftsman fretted the wooden frame with delicate patterns.
The artist fretted the edges of the table with intricate carvings.
The door was fretted with ornate patterns, adding elegance to the room.
They decided to fret the wooden panels with geometric shapes.
The cabinet doors were fretted to enhance the antique look.

6

to create a design or pattern on a surface, often through repeated rubbing, cutting, or marking

transitive

The wind fretted the sand, leaving rippling patterns across the desert.
The waves fretted the shoreline, leaving a series of natural patterns in the sand.
The wind fretted the snow, creating beautiful designs.

7

to make someone feel anxious, upset, or troubled

transitive

The constant delays at the airport fretted the passengers.
His rude comments seemed to fret her for the rest of the evening.
She didn’t want to fret her parents by telling them the bad news.
The thought of the long meeting ahead began to fret him.
His health problems fretted his family, who were constantly worried.

8

to gradually cause irritation or distress by constant pressure or persistence

The ticking clock fretted at his nerves as the deadline approached.
His worried thoughts fretted at his mind, making it hard to relax.
The repeated questions from his boss fretted at his patience.
The harsh words from his colleague fretted at his self-esteem.
The unresolved issue fretted at his mind, preventing him from focusing on anything else.

Synonyms:

eat into grate rankle

9

to become irritated or sore due to constant rubbing or friction

Her feet began to fret after walking for hours in new shoes.
His hands fretted from gripping the rough rope for so long.
The tight straps on her backpack made her shoulders fret.
The rough shoes caused his heels to fret, leaving blisters.
Her wrists began to fret from the tight cuffs on her jacket.

Synonyms:

10

to add frets to a stringed instrument, such as a guitar or violin, to help produce different notes

transitive

The luthier carefully fretted the guitar, ensuring the notes were perfect.
He decided to fret the violin himself to improve its sound.
The craftsman fretted the new guitar to make it easier to play.
After the repairs, the guitar was fretted with new, smooth metal strips.
He watched a tutorial on how to fret a stringed instrument correctly.