dare

¹

[ dair ]

verb (used without object)

dared or (Archaic) durst [durst];present singular 3rd person: dares or daredaringdared

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

   You wouldn't dare!

verb (used with object)

daringpresent singular 3rd person: dares or daredareddared or (Archaic) durst [durst];

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. daresay ( def ).

Dare

²

[ dair ]

noun

1. Vir·gin·ia [ver-, jin, -y, uh], 1587–?, daughter of Lost Colony settlers, the first child born in the Americas to English parents.

DARE

³

1. Dictionary of American Regional English.

dare

/ 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. I dare say or I daresay
   1. (it is) quite possible (that)
   2. probably: used as sentence substitute

noun

1. a challenge to do something as proof of courage
2. something done in response to such a challenge

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 come

Derived Forms

• ˈdarer, noun

Other Words From

• dar·er noun
• re·dare verb (used with object) redared redaring
• un·dared adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dare¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dare¹

Old English durran ; related to Old High German turran to venture

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   She scaled the wall on a dare.

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

On the other, no one inside the Lakers locker room would dare compare the two, the first definitely still a novelty the Lakers would’ve happily traded, prize money and all, for even a long shot chance to win the big title in the spring.

From Los Angeles Times

How dare scientists do research without an immediate practical application!

From Slate

Brimelow, who refers to himself as a civic nationalist, then launched a website devoted to discussions of racial identity, which he called VDare, after Virginia Dare, supposedly the first English baby to be born on American soil.

From Salon

“This bill dangerously weaponizes the Treasury against nonprofit organizations and houses of worship — Christian, Jewish, or Muslim — that dare to support Palestinian and Lebanese human rights or criticize Israel’s genocidal actions,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement.

From Salon

Barbara Bregoli fired back on Instagram: “I pray to God one of your children never get cancer. I’ve had it twice. How dare you say my daughter’s faking this.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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