scary

Everyday

Scary means making you feel afraid or frightened. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and films, scary parts include monsters, ghosts and dark places; Halloween is meant to be scary in a fun way. In everyday life, new things like the first day at school or going to the dentist can feel scary, and talking about it helps. In safety, if something online or in real life is scary, tell a trusted adult. «A bit scary» is milder than «terrifying».

Examples

• That ghost story was really scary! tree →
• The first day at a new school can be scary. tree →
• The dog looked scary, but it was friendly. tree →
• This is the scariest ride at the fair. tree →
• Thunderstorms can be scary. tree →
• If you see something scary online, tell an adult. tree →
• We watched a scary film on Halloween. tree →
• A chilly little wind came creeping with them making scary noises in the grass. tree →

Note

Comparative «scarier», superlative «scariest» (y → i). «Scary» (what frightens) vs «scared» (how you feel): «The film was scary; I was scared.» Spelt «scary», not «scarey». Informal; «frightening» is more formal.