dare
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to be brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous.
v.to possess sufficient courage to undertake a particular action; functions as both a lexical verb and a semi-modal.
Simple“I didn't dare to tell him the truth about what happened to his car.”
In context“Few politicians would dare to challenge the consensus on such a sensitive issue during an election year.”
UsageCan be followed by a 'to'-infinitive or a bare infinitive in negative and interrogative sentences.
PitfallHe doesn't dares to speak. He doesn't dare to speak.In negative sentences with 'do', 'dare' stays in the base form without an 's'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to challenge someone to do something dangerous or difficult to prove they are brave.
v.to defy or challenge someone to perform an action, typically as a test of courage.
Simple“The other boys dared him to jump off the high wall into the water.”
In context“The opposition leader dared the prime minister to call an immediate election to settle the dispute.”
UsageFollows the pattern: dare + object + to-infinitive.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a challenge to do something brave or silly, often as a game.
n.an act of defying or challenging someone to prove their courage.
Simple“He climbed the old tree as a dare from his friends.”
In context“What started as a simple dare among teenagers quickly escalated into a dangerous stunt that required emergency intervention.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a choice in a game where you must do something difficult instead of answering a question.
n.a specific choice within the social game 'truth or dare' involving the performance of a task.
Simple“She chose a dare and had to sing a song in front of the whole party.”
In context“During the game, he reluctantly accepted a dare that involved calling his boss after midnight.”
“I didn't dare open my eyes because I thought if I did, he might kill me," she adds.”
“Miliband has taken a risk, but after more than 70,000 deaths in Gaza, and the two-state solution on life support, it may be time to dare.”