A more thorough explanation:

Assault is an intentional act that causes another person to feel like they are about to be hurt or touched in an offensive way. The person who commits assault does not have to physically harm the victim, but they must have intended to cause harm or offense. The victim must also have felt like they were in immediate danger of harm or offense.

For example, if someone threatens to punch another person, that could be considered assault even if they never actually hit them. Another example could be if someone makes a sexual comment to another person that makes them feel uncomfortable and afraid.

The victim does not have to prove that they were actually afraid, only that they were aware that harm or offense might occur. If the victim and the person who committed assault do not know each other, then the legal standard is what an ordinary reasonable person under the same circumstances as the victim would have believed. If they do know each other, then their past experiences may be considered when determining whether the victim's fear was reasonable.

Assault is considered an intentional tort, which means that the person who committed assault meant to cause harm or offense. Assault is often paired with battery, which refers to the actual physical contact that causes harm or offense.

Aggravated assault is a more serious form of assault that involves aggravating circumstances, such as the use of a weapon or the intent to cause serious bodily harm.

Overall, assault is a serious offense that can cause emotional harm and fear in victims, even if no physical harm is done.