fray

[US]/freɪ/
[UK]/freɪ/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

n. a fight, battle, or argument; a worn or frayed spot
vt. to wear away or become strained; to cause to wear away
vi. to become worn or frayed

Phrases & Collocations

fray of emotions

enter the fray

fray of battle

fray of words

beyond the fray

Example Sentences

fray the edge of a shirt sleeve

Are you ready for the fray?

This material frays easily.

The argument frayed their nerves.

Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.

Support for the leader was fraying at the edges.

repeated noises that fray the nerves.

The buckram was frayed on the antique volume.

Why should you get involved in their fray?

This old jumper of mine is frayed at the sleeve cuff.

The electric wire is fraying and could be dangerous to handle.

Ravel comes from the obsolete Dutch verb ravelen, “to tangle, fray out, unweave,” which comes in turn from the noun ravel, “a loose thread.

Real-world Examples

I just needed something solid to stop the fray between those fraternal twins.

Source: Hu Min reads stories to remember TOEFL vocabulary.

I make the rope that doesn't fray.

Source: Children's Encyclopedia Song

Still, residents say their nerves are frayed.

Source: CNN 10 Student English February 2018 Collection

And just as she reversed course, a dark horse entered the fray.

Source: CNN 10 Student English March 2023 Collection

Whereas I open his joint capsule, I could immediately see this ACL was all frayed.

Source: National Geographic Science Popularization (Video Version)

This came after the former president threw out another subtle hint of possibly joining the fray.

Source: Newsweek

But he never pretends that art can stay immune from ideology, high above the fray.

Source: The Power of Art - Pablo Picasso

Theologians joined the fray, arguing that vampires were physical beings that proved the existence of an afterlife.

Source: BBC Ideas Selection (Bilingual)

My relationships were fraying or failing.

Source: TED Talks (Video Edition) June 2017 Collection

This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.

Source: All-Star Read "Harry Potter" Collection

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