dare

¹dare

verb \ˈder\

dareddar·ingdares or (auxiliary) dare

Definition of DARE

verbal auxiliary

: to be sufficiently courageous to <no one dared say a word> <she dare not let herself love — G. B. Shaw>

intransitive verb

: to have sufficient courage <try it if you dare>

transitive verb

1

a : to challenge to perform an action especially as a proof of courage <dared him to jump> b : to confront boldly : defy <dared the anger of his family>

2

: to have the courage to contend against, venture, or try <the actress dared a new interpretation of this classic role>

— dar·er \ˈder-ər\ noun

Examples of DARE

1. Try it if you dare.
2. We wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
3. The actress dared a new interpretation of the classic role.
4. She dared him to dive off the bridge.
5. She dared me to ask him out on a date. I did, and he said yes.

Origin of DARE

Middle English dar (1st & 3d singular present indicative), from Old English dear; akin to Old High German gitar (1st & 3d singular present indicative) dare, Greek tharsos courage

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to DARE

Synonyms: challenge, defy, stump

Antonyms: dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep

Related Words: beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, face, outbrave, outface

Near Antonyms: avoid, eschew, shun; elude, escape, evade, shake

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with DARE

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare