dangerous
- 01 A1 Beginner
likely to cause physical harm, injury, or death.
involving or causing exposure to injury, pain, or loss. This is the primary sense used for physical hazards.
Simple“It is dangerous to walk on the thin ice during the spring thaw.”
In context“The mountain pass becomes exceptionally dangerous during the winter months when heavy snowfall obscures the narrow trail and increases the risk of avalanches.”
PitfallIt is danger to swim here. It is dangerous to swim here.Use the adjective 'dangerous' to describe a situation; 'danger' is the noun.
- 02 A2 Elementary
describes a person or animal that is likely to attack or hurt others.
characterised by a disposition to inflict harm or injury; often used to describe volatile individuals or aggressive animals.
Simple“The police warned the public that the escaped tiger was very dangerous.”
In context“The suspect was considered armed and dangerous, prompting the authorities to issue a high-level alert to all surrounding residential areas.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
very sick and at risk of dying.
referring to a medical state where a patient's life is at immediate risk. This usage is increasingly rare in modern speech but remains in specific medical or literary contexts.
Simple“The doctor said the patient's condition was dangerous after the long surgery.”
In context“The bulletin released by the hospital confirmed that the prime minister remained in a dangerous state following the sudden cardiac event.”
Usage dangerous driving · dangerous conditions · dangerous surf
From Middle English dangerous (“difficult, severe, domineering, arrogant, fraught with danger”), daungerous, from Anglo-Norman [Term?], from Old French dangereus (“threatening, difficult”), from dangier. Equivalent to danger + -ous. Displaced native Old English frēcne.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.