dare1 verb, modal verbdare2 noun
daredare1 /deə $ der/ ●●○ S3 W3 verb, modal verb 
VERB TABLE
dare
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | dare |
| he, she, it | dares | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | dared |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have dared |
| he, she, it | has dared | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had dared |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will dare |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have dared |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Dare we take this decision without consulting the Prime Minister?
- I don't dare tell my mom and dad.
- My sister used to steal things from stores, but I would never dare.
- No one dared to go into the old house at night.
- She was so high up now that she didn't dare look down.
Longman Language Activatorto be brave enough to do something
· None of the other people were brave enough to stand up to him.· Maybe if you were brave enough to ask her out she'd go to a movie with you.· Anyone brave enough to get this far would then find an electrified fence blocking their way.
to be brave enough to do something that is dangerous or that you are afraid of doing -- used in questions, negatives, and sentences beginning with 'if': · My sister used to steal things from stores, but I would never dare.not dare (to) do something: · No one dared to go into the old house at night.· She was so high up now that she didn't dare look down.dare do something: · Dare we take this decision without consulting the Prime Minister?
to be brave enough to do something unpleasant or difficult that other people are afraid to do spoken: · I know he made a mistake, but at least he had the guts to admit it!· Sarah's the only one who has the guts to speak her mind.
to be calm and confident enough to do something that is frightening or dangerous: · Not many people have the nerve to stand up and speak in front of a large audience.· I can't believe he had the nerve to show up at the party after what he said about Janet.
to force yourself to be brave and do something that you are afraid of doing, after thinking about it for a long time: · I eventually plucked up the courage to tell my parents that I was going to go and live in Canada.· David loves Julie but he can't get up enough courage to ask her to marry him.
to decide not to do something because you are too frightened to suddenly lose the confidence and calmness that you need in order to do something dangerous or frightening: · Dan wanted to ask his boss for a day off but he lost his nerve at the last minute.· I stood at the top of the ski-slope for a minute then lost my nerve.
to not be brave enough to do something because you are afraid of what might happen if you do it: not dare do something: · The older boys used to bully me but I didn't dare complain.not dare to do something: · Billy stood on top of the rock, not daring to jump down.not dare: · I wanted to ask Dad for the money but I didn't dare.
spoken informal to not be brave enough to do something that you intended to do or said you would do: · I was supposed to make the introductory speech, but I chickened out at the last minute.chicken/wimp out of doing something: · She chickened out of telling her father that she and David were going to live together.
spoken to not be brave enough to do something that people think you should do: · He wouldn't have the guts to say that to me.· I planned to ask my boss for a raise but in the end I didn't have the guts.not have the guts to do something: · Peg has done all the things I never had the guts to try.be without/lack guts: · Joe's a weak character, without guts or ambition.· She's intelligent enough, but she lacks guts.
to not be brave or confident enough to do something because you think it is too difficult, dangerous or embarrassing: · I'd love to quit my job and go back to college but I don't have the nerve.not have the nerve to do something: · He doesn't have the nerve to tell the boss what he really thinks of her.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
So jump, then. I dare you.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
So jump, then. I dare you.· He seemed unable to meet the coroner's eyes, not daring even to look in his direction.· The nomes sat in the noisy darkness, not daring even to speak, and felt their world vanishing.
· She had not imagined she would ever dare say this aloud.
· Hardly daring to breathe, hardly daring to even think, she closed her eyes in a sort of helpless defeat.· Forget all those tales of our taking our position at dawn and staying there hardly daring to move.· She dragged Nick into the line of waiting children and stood, eyes on the ground, hardly daring to breathe.· I sat very still, hardly daring to move my head.· Hardly daring to trust himself, he gently replaced the receiver.· At first, Lucien had watched them in awed fascination, hardly daring to practise any movements himself for fear of ridicule.· I hardly dare to mention the 15 percent. average rate of inflation under the last Labour Government.
· How dare she sit like that in front of a man of his age!· How dare you meddle in people's lives?· How dare you, miss, turn the Feathers into little better than a bawdy-house?· How dare they believe that they could stand before the flower of Bretonnian chivalry!· How dare he order her about like that?· How dare he? she thought, after more or less flaunting that - that woman in front of me.· How dare you pretend to be attracted to me?· How dare Lou leave them on their own?
· This is the latest and most daring in a sequence of dramatic stairs designed by Jiricna.· Perhaps the overall disc lacks variety, but it confirms Burwell's position as the most daring, inventive composer around.
· These are the shows that Springer would never dare to make.· Buying that blank tape had been a waste, for she knew she would never dare play it back.· She thought she would never dare touch anything in this house in case she left marks.· He needs a shrink, Kate thought, but she knew she would never dare suggest it.· Never daring to use them on a regular basis, they were placed inside a display cabinet for many years.· The Bogeyman would never dare enter the kitchen.· I seek guidance, never dare I offer it in such matters.· And how many men staggered out of Fatal Attraction swearing they'd never dare flirt with a woman again?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- I dare say things will improve.
- Although it was correct, I dare say, and he no doubt intended it as a mark of respect.
- His mouth twitches almost imperceptibly. I dare say that mine, under the cover of my beard, twitches faintly back.
- There's lots of things that ought, I dare say.
- They're all these chemical things now - I dare say they're just as good really.
- They sang in perfect harmony, although I dare say Alex Ferguson will complain about the pitch.
- Were it not fur her, I dare say Edward Plantagenet would long since have succumbed to ennui and despair.
- What Miguel says goes around here, I dare say.
- You understand not - how could you? I dare say you never will.
- How dare you make fun of me like that!
- Because you sacked Jim, how dare you do it?
- But now it's: how dare anyone step on what I have vacuumed?
- Finally, Neville Marten, how dare you dismiss the guitar as a mere machine?
- First, how dare she assume that our main goal is to walk, without consulting us in the first place.
- Mr Lang, how dare you, sir!
- So how dare anyone criticise a true champion who has proved herself over and over again.
- Stuff for kissing and cooing over, side by side, here, in my house, how dare you?
- With intense anger, I repeat, how dare she cast a slur on my character?
- Don't you dare hang up on me again!
- Dohnányi, dare I say it, is merely bland.
- Fashionwise, it was not a night to look, dare I say it, nice.
- For children of all ages this is a fascinating display and one, dare I say it, which reaches new heights.
- Of course some of Our Guild Members are dare I say it just that wee bit narrow minded.
- What if some one could undergo that absorption with a cool ... dare I say it? ... scientific rationale.
- You may, dare I say it, need the money.
WORD FAMILYnoundaredaringadjectivedaringverbdareadverbdaringly
1[intransitive] to be brave enough to do something that is risky or that you are afraid to do – used especially in questions or negative sentences: He wanted to ask her, but he didn’t dare. ‘I’ll tell Dad.’ ‘You wouldn’t dare!’dare (to) do something I daren’t go home. Only a few journalists dared to cover the story. She hardly dared hope that he was alive. Dare we admit this?2how dare you spoken said to show that you are very angry and shocked about what someone has done or said: How dare you accuse me of lying!3don’t you dare! spoken said to warn someone not to do something because it makes you angry: Don’t you dare talk to me like that!4[transitive] to try to persuade someone to do something dangerous or embarrassing as a way of proving that they are bravedare somebody to do something They dared Ed to steal a bottle of his father’s whiskey. So jump, then. I dare you.5dare I say/suggest spoken formal used when saying something that you think people may not accept or believe: I thought the play was, dare I say it, boring.6I dare say (also I daresay) spoken especially British English used when saying or agreeing that something may be true: I dare say things will improve.GRAMMARPatterns with dare• You say that someone dares to do something: · Karen dared to ask why.· Not many people dared to argue.• Dare can also be used as a modal verb, followed by the base form (=infinitive without ‘to’), especially in negatives and questions: · Not many people dared argue.· Dare we go back?• Don’t use a ‘to’ infinitive with daren’t. You say: · I daren’t look. ✗Don’t say: I daren’t to look.Using the progressiveDare is not used in the progressive. You say: · I daren’t say anything. ✗Don’t say: I am not daring say anything.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSdare1 verb, modal verbdare2 noun
daredare2 noun [countable] something dangerous that you have dared someone to dofor a dare British English, on a dare American English (=because someone has dared you to) She ran across a busy road for a dare.