Definition of 'dare'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense dares
, present participle daring
, past tense, past participle dared
Dare sometimes behaves like an ordinary verb, for example 'He dared to speak' and 'He
doesn't dare to speak' and sometimes like a modal, for example 'He daren't speak'.
1. verb
If you do not dare to do something, you do not have enough courage to do it, or you do not want to do it because you fear the consequences. If you dare to do something, you do something which requires a lot of courage.
2. verb
If you dare someone to do something, you challenge them to prove that they are not frightened of doing it.
3. countable noun [usually singular, usu as/for/on a N]
4.
See don't you dare
5.
See how dare you
6.
See dare I say it
7.
usage note: You can leave out the word to after dare in the above sense. Nobody dared complain. The form dares is never used in a question or in a negative statement. You use dare instead. Dare she tell him?.. He dare not enter.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
English Easy Learning GrammarWhen do you use 'dare' and 'need' in English?The two verbs dare and need have characteristics of both modal verbs and main verbs.
Because of this, they are called semi-modals. They sometimes behave ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarModal verbsWhat is a modal verb in English?
What is the form and tense of modal verbs in English?
What are semi-modal verbs in English?
Where do you put modal verbs ... Read more
What is the form and tense of modal verbs in English?
What are semi-modal verbs in English?
Where do you put modal verbs ... Read more
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
dare in British English
verb
2. (can take an infinitive with or without to)
to be courageous enough to try (to do something)
she dares to dress differently from the others
you wouldn't dare!
4. See I dare say
noun
▶ USAGE When used negatively or interrogatively, dare does not usually add -s: he dare not come; dare she come? When used negatively in the past tense, however, dare usually adds -d: he dared not come5.
a challenge to do something as proof of courage
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
darer (ˈdarer) noun
Word origin
Old English durran; related to Old High German turran to venture
Word Frequency
DARE in American English
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
dare in American English
verb intransitiveWord forms: dared, ˈdaring, dare or dares
1.
to have enough courage or audacity for some act; be fearless; venture
verb transitive
2.
to have courage for; venture upon
he will dare any danger
noun
5.
a challenge to do a hard, dangerous, or rash thing, esp. as a test of courage
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
darer (ˈdarer)
noun
Word origin
ME dar, der < OE dear, dearr, 1st pers. sing., pres. indic. of durran, to dare < IE base *dhers-, to dare > Gr tharsein, to be bold
Word Frequency
dare in American English
(dɛər) (verb dared or archaic durst, dared, daring, present singular 3rd person dares or dare)
intransitive verb
transitive verb
2.
to have the boldness to try; venture; hazard
3.
to meet defiantly; face courageously
5. See dare say
auxiliary verb or verb
SYNONYMS 1. dare, venture imply involvement in risks and dangers. dare emphasizes the state of mind that makes one willing to meet danger: He dared to do what he knew was right. venture emphasizes the act of doing something that involves risk: He ventured into deep water. 2. hazard, risk, brave.Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
darer noun
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME dar (v.), OE dear(r), 1st and 3rd person sing. pres. indic. of durran; akin to OHG gitarran]Word Frequency
DARE in American English
abbreviation
Dictionary of American Regional English
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Examples of 'dare' in a sentence
dare
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Quotations
Who dares wins Motto of the British SAS regiment
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dare
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In other languages
dare
British English: dare
/dɛə/ VERB
If you dare to do something, you are brave enough to do it.
Most people don't dare to argue with him.
- American English: dare /ˈdɛər/
- Arabic: يَجْرُؤُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: ousar
- Chinese: 敢于
- Croatian: usuditi se
- Czech: troufnout si
- Danish: vove
- Dutch: durven
- European Spanish: atreverse
- Finnish: uskaltaa
- French: oser
- German: wagen
- Greek: τολμώ
- Italian: osare
- Japanese: 思い切って・・・する
- Korean: 감히 ...하다
- Norwegian: våge
- Polish: ośmielić się
- European Portuguese: ousar
- Romanian: a îndrăzni
- Russian: осмеливаться
- Latin American Spanish: atreverse
- Swedish: våga
- Thai: กล้า
- Turkish: cüret etmek
- Ukrainian: сміти
- Vietnamese: dám
British English: dare
NOUN /dɛə/
A dare is a challenge which one person gives to another to do something dangerous or frightening.
He'd do pretty much anything on a dare.
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dare
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Definition of dare from the Collins English Dictionary
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