scare
skeh-uh
Scare (noun) means a sudden fright, or an event that causes widespread alarm. Example: “A flu scare closed the school for a few days.”
noun
1
A sudden fright, or an event that causes widespread alarm.
"A flu scare closed the school for a few days."
"The health scare turned out to be a false alarm."
"That noise gave me quite a scare."
verb
1
To frighten someone, often briefly or mildly.
"Loud fireworks scare many pets, so keep them indoors."
"The thunder scared the dog under the bed."
"Don't scare me like that!"
How to use scare
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fright, or to give someone a fright.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
scare tactics
health scare
scare someone off
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Word forms
- Plural
- scares
- Third person singular
- scares
- Past tense
- scared
- Comparative
- more scare
- Superlative
- most scare
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A flu _____ closed the school for a few days.
Etymology
From Middle English sker/skere, "terror," related to an Old Norse verb for frightening.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for scare
See all rhymes for scare →Frequently asked questions
What does “scare” mean?
The word “scare” means a sudden fright, or an event that causes widespread alarm. In plain terms, a fright, or to give someone a fright.
How do you pronounce “scare”?
“Scare” is pronounced skeh-uh (/skɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “scare” in a sentence?
Here is “scare” used in a sentence: “The health scare turned out to be a false alarm.”
What is another word for “scare”?
Words with a similar meaning to “scare” include fright, frighten and terrify.
What part of speech is “scare”?
Depending on how it is used, “scare” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “scare” come from?
The word “scare” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sker/skere, "terror," related to an Old Norse verb for frightening.
Is “scare” a common word?
“Scare” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “scare” have?
“Scare” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden fright, or an event that causes widespread alarm.
What is the difference between scare and frighten?
The two verbs mean essentially the same thing, to make someone feel fear, and are interchangeable in most sentences. Scare is the more informal, everyday choice and often describes a brief or mild fright, while frighten can sound slightly more formal or serious.
What is the difference between being scared and being afraid?
Scared and afraid both describe feeling fear, but they behave differently in grammar. Afraid is used only after verbs like be, feel or seem, so you can say "a scared child" but not "an afraid child"; scared is also generally the more informal of the two.
What is a scare in phrases like "health scare" or "bomb scare"?
In these phrases, a scare is an event that causes sudden, widespread alarm, often one that turns out to be less serious than first feared. A health scare is a period of anxiety about a possible illness, and a bomb scare is an alert over a suspected explosive device.
Do "scare off" and "scare away" mean the same thing?
Yes, the phrasal verbs scare off and scare away are interchangeable: both mean to frighten a person or animal into leaving, or into deciding not to do something. For example, high prices can scare off, or scare away, potential buyers.
