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Prepositions after fear

Fear for, fear of, or fear in?

Fear of is used for the thing that causes fear. Fear for is used when you worry about someone or something. Fear in is usually not a fixed combination with fear.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with fear?

Use fear of for the object or cause of fear, and fear for when you are worried about someone or something. Fear in is not a common fixed pattern after fear, though in can introduce a place or situation.

She has a deep fear of heights.
We fear for the missing hikers.
There was fear in the crowd.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
fear of + thing

Naming the source of fear

Use fear of to describe what causes fear or anxiety.

Many children have a fear of the dark.
He overcame his fear of public speaking.
2
fear for + person or thing

Showing concern or worry

Use fear for when you worry that someone or something may be harmed.

Doctors fear for her life.
Residents fear for their safety.
3
fear in + place or group

Describing where fear exists

In can introduce the place, group, or situation where fear is present. It is not a selected preposition after fear.

There was growing fear in the village.
You could sense fear in his voice.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
fear of
She has a fear of failure.
The thing causing fear.
fear for
I fear for the injured passengers.
Worry about someone's safety or future.
fear in
There was fear in the room.
In shows where fear exists, not a fixed verb pattern.
fear about
Parents often fear about their children's future.
Usually replaced by fear for or worry about in natural English.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using fear in as a fixed pattern

Fear in usually describes location or context, not the object of fear.

✕ She fears in spiders. ✓ She fears spiders. / She has a fear of spiders.

Confusing fear for and fear of

Fear of names the danger; fear for shows concern about someone.

✕ They feared of the tourists. ✓ They feared for the tourists.

Using fear about in formal contexts

Fear about is less natural than fear of or worry about.

✕ He has fear about flying. ✓ He has a fear of flying.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The rescue team feared ___ the trapped miners.
2. She has a strong fear ___ dogs.
3. There was fear ___ the community after the storm.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say fear in something?

Yes, when in introduces a place, group, or context, such as fear in the city. It is not the usual preposition for the object of fear.

What is the difference between fear for and fear of?

Fear of describes what scares you. Fear for means you are worried about someone or something.

Is fear about correct?

It appears sometimes, but fear of or worry about are usually more natural choices.

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