# fare

/ˈfɛɹ/ (US) · /fˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fare
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. transport cost

noun · CEFR B1

the money you pay for a journey on a bus, train, taxi, or plane.

For teachers: the sum of money charged for a journey on public transport or in a hired vehicle.

- The bus fare has gone up twice this year, making it expensive for students.
- Commuters were outraged when the rail company announced a significant increase in peak-time fares despite frequent service delays.

Usage: Usually countable when referring to specific prices.

### 2. a passenger

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a person who pays to travel in a vehicle, especially a taxi.

For teachers: a paying passenger in a hired vehicle, particularly a taxicab.

- The taxi driver picked up his last fare of the night near the station.
- The driver noted the destination of his fare in the logbook before pulling away from the kerb into the heavy rain.

Usage: Commonly used in the transport industry or by drivers.

### 3. food and drink

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary · Formal

the type of food and drink that is served at a meal or in a restaurant.

For teachers: a range of food and drink of a specified type; often used in literary or hospitality contexts.

- The restaurant is famous for its traditional English fare like roast beef.
- The tavern offered simple but hearty fare, providing much-needed sustenance to the weary travellers after their long journey.

Usage: Uncountable in this sense.

### 4. to perform or progress

verb · CEFR B2

to get along or succeed in a particular situation.

For teachers: to progress or perform in a specified way; almost always used with an adverbial modifier.

- How did you fare in your job interview yesterday?
- Economists are closely watching how small businesses fare under the new tax regulations introduced earlier this quarter.

Usage: Intransitive; typically followed by adverbs like 'well', 'badly', or 'better'.

## Examples

- The bus fare is two dollars for adults.
- Commuters were frustrated when the city announced a ten percent increase in subway fares starting next month.
- While budget airlines offer low base fares, the total cost of travel often escalates once baggage fees and seat selection charges are included.

---

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.