[+ that] There are fears that the disease will spread to other countries.

fear

v. 1 [vt. not continuous] to be frightened of sth. or someone unpleasant:

Most older employees fear unemployment.

What do you fear most?

2 [not continuous] FORMAL to be worried or frightened that sth. bad might happen or might have happened:

[+ (that)] Police fear (that) the couple may have drowned.

FORMAL It is feared (that) as many as two hundred passengers may have died in the crash.

We huddled together, fearing we might be killed.

[+ to infinitive] Fearing to go herself, she sent her son to find out the news.

fear for sb/sth phrasal verb FORMAL: to be worried about sth., or to be worried that someone is in danger:

Her parents fear for her safety.

3 FORMAL I fear used to give someone news of sth. bad that has happened or might happen:

[+ (that)] I fear (that) she's already left.

never fear (ALSO fear not) OLD USE OR HUMOROUS: do not worry:

Never fear, I'll take good care of him.

Never fear! I'll have that leak fixed in a few moments.

for fear that/of sth: because you are worried that a particular thing might happen:

They wouldn't let their cat outside for fear (that) it would get run over.

I didn't want to move for fear of waking her up.

fright

n. [S or U] the feeling of fear, especially if felt suddenly, or an experience of fear which happens suddenly:

I lay in bed shaking with fright.

You gave her such a fright turning the lights out like that.

You gave me the fright of my life (= a very severe fright), jumping out of the shadows like that!

frighten

vt. 1 to make someone feel fear: