dare

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 In April came the capper when the Fed vowed to go all in and buy something even pension funds wouldn't dare touch—corporate junk. — Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "Global markets turn choppy as investors weigh the threat of a second wave," 22 June 2020 Longer-term, the most dangerous vulnerability the COVID recession exposed might be America’s troubled relationship with facts — and with the experts who dare speak them. — Tom Saler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tom Saler: COVID-19 recession exposed cracks in the nation’s economic foundation that were long ignored," 20 June 2020 Plotting the downfall of mere mortals who dare to criticize your boss isn’t part of your ideal job description? Humph! — Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, "eBay’s cyberstalking fiasco is a case of employee engagement gone horribly wrong," 18 June 2020 As many countries dare to contemplate life after the pandemic, some, in Latin America, for example, are still awaiting the worst. — The Economist, "Black business matters," 12 June 2020 It’s also among the city’s most innovative breweries and has shown a willingness to take risks that others wouldn’t dare attempt. — Matt Koesters, Cincinnati.com, "These are the top 5 breweries in Greater Cincinnati right now," 11 June 2020 The Chinese, for their part, assumed the levers of American democracy to be completely controlled by banks and businesses, who wouldn't dare risk their access to the world's fastest-growing market. — Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, "Tesla’s love affair with China," 11 June 2020 All because Black Americans dare ask that our humanity be recognised and that police be brought to justice for our unlawful murders. — Gabrielle A. Perry, refinery29.com, "Racism In Medicine Has The Power To Kill," 10 June 2020 The media predicted mass death at places of Lake of the Ozarks and Ocean City, Maryland, places where the middle class dare to vacation, but those deaths never happened. — Mica Soellner, Washington Examiner, "'Yes, they were definitely lying': Tucker Carlson claims coronavirus lockdowns were unnecessary," 10 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The boys from Köpenick, the idiot with the army greatcoat who stabbed his own leg on a dare. — Hari Kunzru, The New Yorker, "A Transparent Woman," 29 June 2020 State District Judge Eric Moyé took Luther up on that dare and sentenced her to seven days in jail and a $7,000 fine. — Gilbert Garcia, ExpressNews.com, "Garcia: Abbott gets to play both sides on COVID-19 response," 8 May 2020 Those leaders also believe, although few dare say out loud, that both forms of union must compromise nation-state sovereignty. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Britain’s Independence Day," 29 Jan. 2020 When the forts are done, continue the virtual slumber party with some scary stories and truth-and-dare. — Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Has coronavirus in Milwaukee canceled your child's birthday party? Here's how you can still celebrate.," 20 Mar. 2020 If that was a dare on Trump's part to Democrats, their voters appear to have called him on it. — Edward Morrissey, TheWeek, "CPAC feels the Bern," 27 Feb. 2020 After critics have spent months dunking on Hudson Yards, for someone visiting from out of town, going there almost feels like a dare. — Maura Judkis, chicagotribune.com, "Hate on the Hudson (Yards): How bad can it be?," 8 Aug. 2019 Roughly a third of the Chrysler products from the past 30 years are a result of a double-dog dare. — Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, "Jaguar's Vector Mobility Pod Makes Us Sad," 19 Feb. 2020 After critics have spent months dunking on Hudson Yards, for someone visiting from out of town, going there almost feels like a dare. — Maura Judkis, chicagotribune.com, "Hate on the Hudson (Yards): How bad can it be?," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dare.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

3 Jul 2020

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“Dare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dare. Accessed 5 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for dare

dare

verb

English Language Learners Definition of dare

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to have enough courage or confidence to do something : to not be too afraid to do something

: to do (something that is difficult or that people are usually afraid to do)

: to tell (someone) to do something especially as a way of showing courage

dare

noun

English Language Learners Definition of dare (Entry 2 of 2)

: the act of telling someone to do something as a way of showing courage

See the full definition for dare in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dare

verb

\ ˈder

dared; daring

Kids Definition of dare

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to have courage enough for some purpose : be bold enough Try it if you dare. —sometimes used as a helping verbThe knight looked so solemn about it that Alice did not dare to laugh.— Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

2 : to challenge to do something especially as a proof of courage I dare you to jump.

3 : to face with courage They dared the dangerous crossing.

dare

noun

Kids Definition of dare (Entry 2 of 2)

: a challenge to do something as proof of courage I ate the hot pepper on a dare.

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