# danger

/ˈdeɪndʒɝ/ (US) · /dˈeɪndʒɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/danger
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. possibility of harm

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The hikers were in danger when the storm suddenly moved in.
- The rescue team operated under constant danger, navigating unstable terrain while the blizzard continued to worsen.

### 2. a cause of harm

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The broken glass on the playground is a danger to children.
- The report identified several hidden dangers in the old factory, including faulty wiring and structural weaknesses in the floorboards.

### 3. railway signal

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · British English

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

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

- The train stopped because the signal was at danger.
- 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'.

## Examples

- The sign warns people about the danger of falling rocks.
- Firefighters often put their lives in danger to save people trapped inside burning buildings.
- The primary danger of the current economic policy lies in its failure to address the widening gap between urban and rural infrastructure development.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.