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dare
1[dair]
verb (used without object)
present-singular-3rd-person
dares, dare .to have the necessary courage or boldness for something; be bold enough.
You wouldn't dare!
verb (used with object)
present-singular-3rd-person
dares, dare .auxiliary verb
to have the necessary courage or boldness to (used chiefly in questions and negatives): He dare not mention the subject again.
How dare you speak to me like that?
He dare not mention the subject again.
noun
a challenge or provocation posed to someone to test their boldness or courage.
I accepted the dare.
an action proposed to someone as a challenge or test of boldness or courage: She knew it was going to be a humiliating dare.
Will he be able to complete the dare?
She knew it was going to be a humiliating dare.
verb phrase
Dare
2[dair]
noun
Virginia 1587–?, daughter of Lost Colony settlers, the first child born in the Americas to English parents.
DARE
3Dictionary of American Regional English.
dare
/ ɛə /
verb
(tr) to challenge (a person to do something) as proof of courage
(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!
rare(tr) to oppose without fear; defy
(it is) quite possible (that)
probably: used as sentence substitute
noun
a challenge to do something as proof of courage
something done in response to such a challenge
Usage
Other 51Թ Forms
- darer noun
- redare verb (used with object)
- undared adjective
- ˈ岹 noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of dare1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of dare1
Idioms and Phrases
on a dare, in response to being challenged to attempt something dangerous or bold.
She scaled the wall on a dare.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
"We've got a small English class every week - half of the students didn't even dare to come out for the English class."
Manhandled, for daring to exercise his congressional responsibilities.
"If that’s what they do to a United States Senator with a question, imagine what they can do to any American that dares to speak up," he said.
How very dare you! — have in turn blazed across social media spaces populated by the kind of folks who will tell you, unprompted, that they have a favorite punctuation mark and what it is.
It is a stretch, it is a dare, it is bold, it is brave, it is thrilling.
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When To Use
While the word dare is used widely and variously for bold behavior, a dare popularly refers to a silly or risky challenge a person is compelled to do as part of children's games.What are some other forms of dare?double dareWhat are some other words related to dare?
- truth or dare
- game on
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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