Trepidation
/ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/
nounC1
Definition
Trepidation is the feeling of being very nervous or scared about something that may happen soon. It often makes people unsure or careful because they worry about bad results or danger. It is stronger than simple worry but not as strong as panic.
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See It in Action
A feeling of nervous fear or worry about something that might happen
- •She felt trepidation before her job interview.
- •There was a sense of trepidation in the room before the test results were announced.
- •He approached the stage with trepidation, unsure how the audience would react.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "trepidation" like "fear" (A1 word), but it is a slow, quiet fear mixed with worry and hesitation, not sudden or loud
- ✓Picture your heart beating fast and your hands shaking a little before you speak in front of a big group
- ✓It's the feeling when you are about to try something new and you don’t know if it will go well
- ✓Sounds like "trap-i-DAY-shun" → imagine being trapped in a day full of worries, making you nervous all day long
- ✓Think of a story where a character stands at the edge of a dark forest, unsure if they should enter because of fear and doubt
- ✓NOT like "panic" (sudden, strong fear), trepidation is slower and more thoughtful fear mixed with anxiety
- ✓NOT like "calm" (no fear), trepidation is full of nervous energy and worry
- ✓NOT like "excitement" (happy feeling), but sometimes trepidation can feel close to excitement because both involve strong feelings before an event
Try Other Words
- •Anxiety: feeling worried or nervous about something (Use when the feeling is more about stress or nervousness than fear)
- •Apprehension: worry or fear about the future (Use when emphasizing a sense of doubt or hesitation)
- •Nervousness: feeling uneasy or worried (Use when the feeling is less strong and more about being tense)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "trepid-" means trembling or shaking + suffix "-ation" turns it into a noun meaning the state or condition
- •Etymology: from Latin "trepidatio," meaning trembling or fear
- •Historical development: first used in English in the 15th century to describe fear or alarm causing shaking or trembling
- •Modern usage: used to describe nervous or fearful feelings about future events, often in formal or literary language
Reflect & Connect
•How do you notice trepidation in yourself before new experiences, and what helps you manage it?
•Can trepidation sometimes be helpful by making us careful, or is it always a negative feeling?
Fill in the blanks
1.She felt trepidation because she was ___ about the important meeting and its possible results.
2.The students showed trepidation ___ the difficult exam they were about to take.
3.Unlike sudden panic, trepidation is a slow feeling that makes people ___ before acting.
4.When someone says "with trepidation," it means they do something ___ because they feel nervous or scared.
5.Trepidation often comes ___ moments before a big change or challenge.
6.People with trepidation might ___ their words or move slowly to avoid mistakes.
7.From the way he spoke with trepidation, we could infer he was ___ about what would happen next.