verb

dare

deh-uh

verb

To have the courage or nerve to do something.

"She didn't dare tell her boss the truth."

"Nobody dared interrupt the meeting."

To challenge someone to do something risky or difficult, as proof of courage.

"His friends dared him to jump off the high board."

noun

A challenge to do something that requires courage.

"He climbed onto the roof on a dare."

How to Use Dare

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHaving the nerve to do something, or challenging someone else to.

Common mistake

As a challenge verb, "dare" takes "to" optionally: "I dare you to jump" and "I dare you jump" are both heard, but "dare you to jump" is the safer standard form.

Common pairings

dare to say take a dare dare someone to do something

Word Forms

dared past tense, durst past tense, dared past tense, dares plural, dares plural, Dares plural, dares singular, dare singular, dast singular, dares singular

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Can you complete this real example?

She didn't _____ tell her boss the truth.

Etymology

From Old English durran ("to dare"), a very old Germanic verb related to the idea of being bold enough to face something.

Rhymes for dare

are care hare mare fare bare rare ware gare share snare stare

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