English Reference
noun

danger

n.
US /ˈdeɪndʒɝ/ UK /dˈeɪndʒɐ/ dan·ger UK spelling danger's, danger's, dangered, dangering

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    the possibility that someone will be hurt or something bad will happen.

    the state of being vulnerable to injury, loss, or destruction. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

    Simple

    The hikers were in danger when the storm suddenly moved in.

    In context

    The rescue team operated under constant danger, navigating unstable terrain while the blizzard continued to worsen.

    Pitfall
    He was in a danger. He was in danger.

    When describing the state of being at risk, 'danger' is uncountable and does not take an article.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    a person or thing that is likely to cause harm or trouble.

    a specific person, object, or situation that constitutes a threat. Countable in this sense.

    Simple

    The broken glass on the playground is a danger to children.

    In context

    The report identified several hidden dangers in the old factory, including faulty wiring and structural weaknesses in the floorboards.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency TechnicalBritish English

    a signal that tells a train driver to stop because it is not safe to go forward.

    the stop indication of a railway signal, typically used in the prepositional phrase 'at danger'.

    Simple

    The train stopped because the signal was at danger.

    In context

    The investigation revealed that the locomotive had passed a signal at danger, narrowly avoiding a collision with a freight train on the main line.

    Usage

    Usually appears in the phrase 'at danger'.

    stop signal

From Middle English daunger (“power, dominion, peril”), from Anglo-Norman dangier, from Old French dangier, alteration of Old French dongier (due to association with Latin damnum (“damage”)) from Vulgar Latin *dominārium (“authority, power”) from Latin dominus (“lord, master”). Displaced native Old English frēcennes.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin dominus
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated