terrified of + thing/person
Showing what someone fears
Use terrified of for the object or situation that causes fear.
I'm terrified of heights.
Terrified: which preposition follows it?
Terrified is most commonly followed by of for fears and by for the cause of fear. About can appear with situations or news. Other combinations are limited or nonstandard.
Quick answer
Most common uses of terrified
Use terrified of for the thing someone fears. Use terrified by for the thing that causes the fear. Terrified about is sometimes used for worries about situations. Terrified at and terrified for are much less common and usually depend on a wider sentence context.
She is terrified of spiders.
The children were terrified by the explosion.
He felt terrified about the test results.
The children were terrified by the explosion.
He felt terrified about the test results.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
terrified by + cause
Naming the cause of fear
Use terrified by when something directly frightens someone.
They were terrified by the storm.
terrified about + situation
Expressing worry about events or outcomes
Terrified about is used for anxiety about future situations or news.
She was terrified about losing her job.
terrified for + someone
Feeling fear for another person's safety
Terrified for usually means fearing that harm may come to someone else.
We were terrified for the missing hikers.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
terrified of
He's terrified of snakes.
afraid of a thing, person, or activity
terrified by
They were terrified by the loud noise.
frightened because of a direct cause
terrified about
She is terrified about the interview.
extremely worried about a situation or result
terrified at
She looked terrified at the sight of blood.
less common; often linked to a reaction to something seen or experienced
terrified for
I'm terrified for my brother.
afraid that something bad may happen to another person
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using at instead of of for general fears
Use terrified of for common fears and phobias.
✕ He's terrified at spiders. ✓ He's terrified of spiders.Confusing by and of
By usually introduces the immediate cause of fear, while of names the feared thing in general.
✕ They are terrified by heights. ✓ They are terrified of heights.Using for with objects of fear
Terrified for refers to concern for someone's safety, not fear of a thing.
✕ She is terrified for flying. ✓ She is terrified of flying.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. She is terrified ___ dogs.
2. The audience was terrified ___ the explosion.
3. I'm terrified ___ my children during storms.
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Frequently asked questions
Is terrified of the most common pattern?
Yes. Terrified of is the standard way to describe fears and phobias.
Can I say terrified about?
Yes. It is used for anxiety about situations, decisions, or future events.
Is terrified at wrong?
Not always, but it is less common and usually appears in specific reaction contexts.
Related preposition guides
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