dare

¹ American  

[dair] / dɛər /

verb (used without object)

dared, durst, dared, daring,

present singular 3rd person

dares, dare

1. to have the necessary courage or boldness for something; be bold enough.

   You wouldn't dare!

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verb (used with object)

dared, durst, dared, daring,

present singular 3rd person

dares, dare

1. to have the boldness to try; venture; hazard.

   Synonyms:

   brave

2. to meet defiantly; face courageously.

   They dared the waves of the North Atlantic.

3. to challenge or provoke (a person) into a demonstration of courage; defy.

   We dared him to show up at school dressed that way.

auxiliary verb

1. 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

1. a challenge or provocation posed to someone to test their boldness or courage.

   I accepted the dare.

2. 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

1. dare say. see daresay.

idioms

1. on a dare, in response to being challenged to attempt something dangerous or bold.

   She scaled the wall on a dare.

Dare ² American  

[dair] / dɛər /

noun

1. Virginia 1587–?, daughter of Lost Colony settlers, the first child born in the Americas to English parents.

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DARE ³ American  

1. Dictionary of American Regional English.

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dare British  

/ dɛə /

verb

1. (tr) to challenge (a person to do something) as proof of courage

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!

3. rare (tr) to oppose without fear; defy

4. 1. (it is) quite possible (that)

   2. probably: used as sentence substitute

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noun

1. a challenge to do something as proof of courage

2. something done in response to such a challenge

Usage

What does dare mean? 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

Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• darer noun
• redare verb (used with object)
• undared adjective

Etymology

Origin of dare

First recorded before 900; Middle English dar (verb), Old English dear(r), 1st and 3rd person singular present indicative of durran; akin to Old High German gitarran

Explanation

When you challenge or provoke someone to try something risky, it's a dare. If you accept a dare, you're probably trying to prove how brave you are. When you challenge your friend to a dare, you dare him. You might, for example, dare your brother to jump off the garage into a pile of leaves. Another way to dare is to actually be brave: "I admire her so much, because she dares to stand up to bullies." The Old English root of dare is durran, "to brave danger, venture, or presume." If you say, "How dare you?" you're expressing outrage or indignation.

Example Sentences

"It's pretty heartbreaking after seeing us doing so well - to dare to dream and do the impossible," Foxes Trust chair Lynn Wyeth told BBC Sport.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

It turned height from a dare into a design choice—and set off more than a century and a half in which elevators and cities rose together.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

I guess I’d like to be not quite as underrated — maybe even, dare I say, to be overrated.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

"People don't dare to start something because it's expensive, and a lot of banks are reluctant to loan money to set up a proper business," he said.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

And as she repositioned herself on the cushioned bench opposite mine, her gaze locked, I didn’t dare speak.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• insult
• oppose
• provoke
• resist
• taunt
• threaten