Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense dares, present participle daring, past tense, past participle daredDare sometimes behaves like an ordinary verb, for example 'He dared to speak' and 'Hedoesn't dare to speak' and sometimes like a modal, for example 'He daren't speak'.
1. verb
If you do not dareto 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 dareto do something, you do something which requires a lot of courage.
Since he was stuck in a lift a year ago he hasn't dared to get back into one. [VERB to-infinitive]
Most people hate Harry but they don't dare to say so. [VERB to-infinitive]
He has also dared to take unpopular, but principled stands at times. [VERB to-infinitive]
We have had problems in our family that I didn't dare tell Uncle. [V inf]
Synonyms: risk doing, venture, have the courage, have the nerve More Synonyms of dare
Dare is also a modal.
Dare she risk staying where she was?
The government dare not raise interest rates again.
'Are you coming with me?'—'I can't, Alice. I daren't.'
2. verb
If you dare someone to do something, you challenge them to prove that they are not frightened of doing it.
She looked at him, her eyes daring him to comment. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
I dare you to sit through forty-five minutes of that! [VERB noun to-infinitive]
3. countable noun [usually singular, usu as/for/on aN]
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.
When found, the children said they'd run away for a dare.
4.
See don't you dare
5.
See how dare you
6.
See dare I say it
7.
See I dare say/I daresay
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.
More Synonyms of dare
English Easy Learning GrammarDare and needThe 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 verbsModal verbs are a particular kind of auxiliary. Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can. Can I use your phone? – Of course you can. Do you think she will ... Read more
dare in British English
(dɛə)
verb
1. (transitive)
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. (transitive) rare
to oppose without fear; defy
4. I dare say
noun
5.
a challenge to do something as proof of courage
6.
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
darer (ˈdarer)
noun
Word origin
Old English durran; related to Old High German turran to venture
DARE in American English
(dɛr)
Dictionary of American Regional English
Dare in American English
(dɛr)
Virginiaborn 1587; 1st child born in America of Eng. parents
dare in American English
(dɛr; dær)
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
3.
to oppose and defy; face
he dared the wrath of the tyrant
4.
to challenge (someone) to do something hard, dangerous, or rash, esp. as a test of courage
noun
5.
a challenge to do a hard, dangerous, or rash thing, esp. as a test of courage
Idioms:
dare say
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
Examples of 'dare' in a sentence
dare
I would not dare tell anyone.
The Sun (2016)
How did you get it out, dare I ask?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
United have to make the fans dare to dream again.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Which government would dare to impose it?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Not that anyone would have dared say anything.
The Sun (2008)
How dare this person measure the work of a pastor in such trivial terms?
Christianity Today (2000)
The people at the top dare not ask searching questions for fear of what they may learn.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Those that envied him dared not challenge him.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
The president argued that the government dared not stand on ceremony in a national emergency.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
But not one dared to face the door.
J.M. Barrie Peter Pan (1911)
It would have made a fine ashtray for anyone who dared to smoke here.
Len Deighton Bomber
She had not dared to ask the question before.
LM Montgomery Anne of Green Gables (1872)
Of course it is difficult to become champions but you must dare to dream.
The Sun (2015)
No one has dared to challenge him.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Can we dare to dream again?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He'll kill you if you dare anything.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
No Wasp patriarch would have dared to defy democratic sensitivities so brazenly.
Peregrine Worsthorne IN DEFENCE OF ARISTOCRACY (2004)
He'll do anything for a dare.
The Sun (2014)
I do not dare do anything else.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He is so dangerous, they daren't speak his name.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Yet how dare they defy Thursday's referendum result?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Quotations
Who dares winsMotto of the British SAS regiment
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
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
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.
American English: dare
Brazilian Portuguese: desafio
Chinese: 挑战
European Spanish: reto
French: défi
German: Mutprobe
Italian: sfida
Japanese: 挑戦
Korean: 도전
European Portuguese: desafio
Latin American Spanish: reto
All related terms of 'dare'
dare say
to think likely ; suppose
I dare say
(it is) quite possible (that)
how dare you
You say ' how dare you ' when you are very shocked and angry about something that someone has done .
don't you dare
If you say to someone ' don't you dare ' do something, you are telling them not to do it and letting them know that you are angry .
dare I say it
You use ' dare I say it ' when you know that what you are going to say will disappoint or annoy someone.
I daresay/I dare say
You can use ' I daresay ' or ' I dare say ' before or after a statement to indicate that you believe it is probably true .
I dare say/I daresay
You can use ' I dare say ' or ' I daresay ' before or after a statement to indicate that you believe it is probably true .
Chinese translation of 'dare'
dare
(dɛəʳ)
vt
to dare sb to do sth激某人做某事 (jī mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
vi
to dare (to) do sth敢做某事 (gǎn zuò mǒushì)
n(c)
激将(將) (jījiàng) (种(種), zhǒng)
I daren't tell him (Brit) 我不敢告诉(訴)他 (wǒ bù gǎn gàosù tā)
I dare say (= I suppose) 我相信 (wǒ xiāngxìn)
don't you dare你竟敢 (nǐ jìng gǎn)
how dare you!你怎敢！ (nǐ zěn gǎn!)
to do sth for a dare因为(為)受到激将(將)而做某事 (yīnwèi shòudào jījiàng ér zuò mǒushì)
All related terms of 'dare'
I dare say
( I suppose ) 我相信 wǒ xiāngxìn
how dare you!
你怎敢！ nǐ zěn gǎn!
don't you dare
你竟敢 nǐ jìng gǎn
to dare sb to do sth
激某人做某事 jī mǒurén zuò mǒushì
to do sth for a dare
因为(為)受到激将(將)而做某事 yīnwèi shòudào jījiàng ér zuò mǒushì
to dare (to) do sth
敢做某事 gǎn zuò mǒushì
1 (verb)
Definition
to be courageous enough to try (to do something)
I didn't dare to tell my uncle what had happened.
Synonyms
risk doing
venture
Each time I ventured to speak, I was ignored.
have the courage
have the nerve
be brave enough
presume
I wouldn't presume to question your judgement.
have the audacity
make bold (archaic)
hazard doing
brave doing
be so bold as
take the liberty of doing
2 (verb)
Definition
to challenge (someone) to do something risky
She dared me to skip class.
Synonyms
challenge
He left a note at the crime scene, challenging detectives to catch him.
provoke
defy
He defied me to come up with a better idea.
taunt
Other youths taunted him about his clothes.
goad
Charles was forever trying to goad her into losing her temper.
throw down the gauntlet
idiom
See I dare say or I daresay
Quotation
Who dares wins [Motto of the British SAS regiment]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of defy
Definition
to challenge (someone to do something)
He defied me to come up with a better idea.
Synonyms
challenge,
dare,
provoke,
throw down the gauntlet
in the sense of goad
Definition
to provoke (someone) to take some kind of action, usually in anger
Charles was forever trying to goad her into losing her temper.