dread的基本意思是“惧怕,担心”,指巨大地、长期地、持续地恐惧,也指面临危险时失去勇气而胆怯。在句中主要用作及物动词,其后可接名词、代词或动名词作宾语,也可接动词不定式或that引导的从句。

dread the moment
担心(某事)会发生 worry about sth will happen
Pauline spent three wretched hours at the cinema dreading the moment when she must go home and face her husband again.保琳在电影院呆了三个小时,她不愿意回家再面对她的丈夫。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
The boy dreads his father.这个孩子畏惧他的父亲。
I dread the dog.我害怕这条狗。
Tom dreaded his visits to the dentist.汤姆非常怕看牙医。
Cats dread water.猫怕水。
I dread the examination.我怕这次考试。
He doesn't dread death.他不怕死。
▲S+～+to-v
I dread to think what will happen in the next few days.我不敢想今后几日内将要发生的事情。
I dread to see him again.我不敢再见他。
▲S+～+v-ing
She dreaded going to the doctor.她怕去看医生。
She dreaded having another heart attack.她担心心脏病再发作。
I dread thinking of what may happen.我怕想可能发生的事。
Do you dread being ill?你害怕生病吗?
The child dreads going to bed in the dark.小孩害怕在黑暗中上床睡觉。
▲S+～+that-clause
I dread that I may never see you again.我生怕这一辈子再也见不到你了。
I dread that he will come.我担心他会来。
He dreads that his wife might take the child from him.他担心妻子可能把孩子带走。

dread doing sth, dread to do sth
dread后可接动名词,也可接动词不定式。其区别是:接动词不定式时,指不敢“主动地”去做某事; 接动名词时则指对某动作所产生的后果“被动地”害怕。试比较以下两句:
I dread to come close to the dog.
我不敢靠近这条狗。
I dread seeing the dog.
我害怕看见那条狗。

dread还可用作名词,作“恐惧,畏惧”解。例如:
He lives in dread of being caught.他生活在遭到拘捕的恐惧之中。

［同义词］   fear, horror, terror
［反义词］   bravery, confidence, courage
［词源］＜古英语drædan(怕,畏惧)