dare

1 of 3

verb

ˈder 

dared; daring; dares or (auxiliary) dare

auxiliary verb

: to be sufficiently courageous to

no one dared say a word

she dare not let herself love

—G. B. Shaw

intransitive verb

: to have sufficient courage

try it if you dare

transitive verb

1

a

: to challenge to perform an action especially as a proof of courage

dared him to jump

b

: to confront boldly : defy

dared the anger of his family

2

: to have the courage to contend against, venture, or try

the actress dared a new interpretation of the classic role

darer

ˈder-ər 

noun

dare

2 of 3

noun

1

: an act or instance of daring (see dare entry 1 sense 1) : challenge

crossed the river on a dare

refused to take the dare

2

: imaginative or vivacious boldness : daring

DARE

3 of 3

abbreviation

Dictionary of American Regional English

Synonyms of dare

Verb

• challenge

Examples of dare in a Sentence

Verb

Try it if you dare.

We wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

The actress dared a new interpretation of the classic role.

She dared him to dive off the bridge.

She dared me to ask him out on a date. I did, and he said yes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Long ago, Levi and Vega, children of the fearsome captain of the Sea Dragon, grow up on tales of daring seafaring exploits, but there are stories they haven't been told — stories about witches, mermaids and magical maps. —Sarah Kate Ellis, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

But for the first time in a long time, a horror movie this big is daring voters to look away. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 June 2026

Noun

Matter got into politics in the early twenty-tens, almost on a dare. —Jessi Jezewska Stevens, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Add Dre Greenlaw back into the mix on defense and the 49ers are on their way back to a living-on-the-edge, don’t-dare-us style. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English dar (1st & 3rd singular present indicative), from Old English dear; akin to Old High German gitar (1st & 3rd singular present indicative) dare, Greek tharsos courage

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dare

• don't you dare
• for a dare
• how dare (someone)
• I dare say
• on a dare

Rhymes for dare

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

dare

1 of 2 verb

ˈda(ə)r 

ˈde(ə)r

dared; daring

1

a

: to have enough courage : be bold enough to

try it if you dare

b

—used as a helping verb

no one dared say a word

2

: to challenge to perform an action especially as a proof of courage

I dare you

3

: to face boldly

dared the dangerous crossing

dare

2 of 2 noun

: an act or instance of daring : challenge

dived from the bridge on a dare

Biographical Definition

Dare

biographical name

ˈder 

Virginia 1587–? 1st child born in America of English parents