Frighten | Mean of frighten in English Dictionary

/ˈfraɪtn̩/

• Verb
• to cause (someone) to become afraid
1. The story really frightened me.
2. The child was badly frightened by the mask.
3. The story nearly frightened me to death. = The story nearly frightened the life out of me. [=the story frightened me very badly]
• to become afraid
1. She doesn't frighten easily.
• to cause (someone or something) to go away or stay away because of fear
1. The dog frightened the prowler away.
2. Tourists have been frightened off by the violence in the city.

• to cause (someone) to do (something) because of fear
1. The insurance agent tried to frighten her into buying the most expensive flood insurance.
2. They frightened the boy into confessing his crime.
• to keep (someone) from (doing something) because of fear
1. Bad economic news has frightened people out of putting their money in the stock market.