scare

1 of 2

verb

ˈsker 

scared; scaring

transitive verb

: to frighten especially suddenly : alarm

intransitive verb

: to become scared

scarer noun

scare

2 of 2

noun

1

: a sudden fright

2

: a widespread state of alarm : panic

scare adjective

Synonyms of scare

Verb

• frighten
• terrify
• startle

Noun

• fear
• anxiety
• fearfulness
• panic

Examples of scare in a Sentence

Verb

You scared me. I didn't see you there.

Stop that, you're scaring the children.

Noun

There have been scares about the water supply being contaminated.

fired over their heads in order to throw a scare into them

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The exposure obviously scares him, but not enough to stop him from filming his next scene, where he’s been tasked with breaking in newcomer Cami Soul. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

The ones who are guessing or scared or covering a gap in their own thinking are the ones who dress uncertainty up in language that sounds important. — Jeremy MacLiver, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Noun

The news comes about seven months after Fincke experienced an unknown medical scare aboard the International Space Station that forced a premature end to what will now be his final mission for NASA. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman suffered a serious scare in Wednesday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English skerren, from Old Norse skirra, from skjarr shy, timid

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scare

• bomb scare
• frighten/scare the life out of
• jump-scare
• scare away/off
• scare into
• scare quotes
• scare someone to death
• scare up

Rhymes for scare

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

Kids Definition

scare

1 of 2 verb

ˈske(ə)r 

ˈska(ə)r

scared; scaring

1

: to frighten suddenly : alarm

2

: to become scared

scare

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sudden fright

2

: a widespread state of alarm : panic