threat
threht
Threat (noun) means a statement expressing intent to harm or punish someone. Example: “He received a threatening letter warning him to leave town.”
noun
1
A statement expressing intent to harm or punish someone.
"He received a threatening letter warning him to leave town."
"She made a threat to cancel the contract unless they paid."
"The shopkeeper reported the anonymous threat to the police."
2
A sign of possible danger or harm.
"Rising sea levels pose a serious threat to coastal towns."
"Dark clouds on the horizon were a threat to our picnic plans."
"The sudden crack in the dam was seen as a threat to the village."
3
A person or thing regarded as dangerous.
"The invasive species is considered a major threat to local wildlife."
"A fallen tree across the road was a threat to drivers."
"The neighbours saw the stray dog as a threat to their cats."
How to use threat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA warning of harm, or something/someone that could cause danger.
Common pairings
pose a threat
idle threat
security threat
under threat
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like threat.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- threats
- Third person singular
- threats
- Past tense
- threated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She made a _____ to cancel the contract unless they paid.
Etymology
From Old English þrēat, originally meaning "pressure" or "oppression," related to a root meaning "to squeeze or press."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for threat
See all rhymes for threat →Frequently asked questions
What does “threat” mean?
The word “threat” means a statement expressing intent to harm or punish someone. In plain terms, a warning of harm, or something/someone that could cause danger.
How do you pronounce “threat”?
“Threat” is pronounced threht (/θɹɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “threat” in a sentence?
Here is “threat” used in a sentence: “He received a threatening letter warning him to leave town.”
What is another word for “threat”?
Words with a similar meaning to “threat” include intimidation, warning and menace.
What is the opposite of “threat”?
The opposite of “threat” — its antonyms — is protection.
What part of speech is “threat”?
“Threat” is a noun.
Where does the word “threat” come from?
The word “threat” comes from Old English. From Old English þrēat, originally meaning "pressure" or "oppression," related to a root meaning "to squeeze or press.".
Is “threat” a common word?
“Threat” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a threat and a warning?
A threat expresses an intention to cause harm or punishment, usually to intimidate or pressure someone. A warning is meant to protect: it alerts a person to a danger so they can avoid it. The key difference is intent — a threat promises harm, while a warning tries to prevent it.
What is the difference between a threat and a risk?
In everyday and security use, a threat is the potential source of harm — the person, action or event that could cause damage. A risk is the likelihood of that harm actually happening and how serious it would be. In short, the threat is the danger; the risk is the exposure to it.
What are the types of threats?
Threats take many forms. They can be verbal or written, direct or implied, and range from personal intimidation to wider dangers such as security, environmental or economic threats. In computing, a 'threat' means anything that could exploit a weakness to damage a system or steal data. Context decides which sense applies.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include threat:
