fray

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈfrā 

: a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute

Fighting there could easily draw neighboring nations into the fray.

—Blaine Harden

… the patrician statesman who stood above the fray.

—Richard D. Hylton

fray

2 of 4

verb (1)

frayed; fraying; frays

transitive verb

1

a

: to wear (something, such as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing : fret

b

: to separate the threads at the edge of

2

: strain, irritate

… a botched new bus system … which has frayed tempers.

—The Economist

intransitive verb

1

: to wear out or into shreds

2

: to show signs of strain

fraying nerves

fray

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a raveled place or worn spot (as on fabric)

fray

4 of 4

verb (2)

frayed; fraying; frays

transitive verb

archaic

: scare

also : to frighten away

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• battle
• fight
• scrabble
• struggle
• throes

Verb (1)

• abrade
• chafe
• corrade
• erode
• frazzle
• fret
• gall
• rasp
• rub
• wear

Examples of fray in a Sentence

Noun (1)

another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS

a troubled youth always getting into frays at school

school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention

Verb (1)

constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Whether the no-tax-on-tips bills enter the fray is unpredictable. —Bob Woods, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

As video footage on social media has shown, however, Marcelo and former Brazil boss Menezes were involved in a heated exchange which resulted in the Los Blancos icon not entering the fray and instead being ordered to return to the bench. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Verb

That lifeline is now fraying on a misguided attempt to assign national security risks to a deal that has none. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Son, a naïve twenty-something who has never seen the outside world, is fascinated by the newcomer, and suddenly, the delicate bonds of blind optimism that have held this wealthy clan together begin to fray. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English fraien, from Anglo-French freier, froier to rub, from Latin fricare — more at friction

Verb (2) and Noun (1)

Middle English fraien, short for affraien to affray

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1630, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fray

• above the fray
• tempers begin to fray

Kids Definition

fray

1 of 2 noun

ˈfrā 

: an usually disorderly or long fight, struggle, or dispute

fray

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to wear (as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing

b

: to separate the threads at the edge of

cutoff jeans with frayed edges

2

: to show or cause to show signs of strain

nerves were beginning to fray

Etymology

Noun

from earlier fray "fright," from affray "quarrel, fight," derived from early French affreer "to attack, disturb, frighten" — related to afraid

Verb

Middle English fraien "to fray," from early French freier, froier "to rub," from Latin fricare "to rub" — related to friction