scare

1 of 3

verb

ˈsker 

scared; scaring

transitive verb

: to frighten especially suddenly : alarm

intransitive verb

: to become scared

scarer noun

scare

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: a sudden fright

2

: a widespread state of alarm : panic

scare adjective

scarer

3 of 3

noun (2)

scar·​er

ˈskerə(r), 

ˈska(a)r-

plural -s

: one that scares

rooks … haunted the newly sown fields, and rose in clouds at the scarers shout

—Adrian Bell

Synonyms of scare

Verb

• frighten
• terrify
• startle

Noun (1)

• 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 (1)

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

Before their conversation can go any further, Morgan scares himself by remembering that tabloids used to tap celebrities’ phones to get gossip fodder, and hangs up on her. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

When you’re exposed in that way to so many different things, different things don’t scare you but actually become normal. — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

Noun

What readers are saying The comments express widespread support and well-wishes for Senator Chris Murphy's recovery after a health scare, emphasizing his importance as a leader and legislator. — Theodoric Meyer, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026

Matt Damon opened up about a health scare involving his wife, Luciana Damon. — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 5 Nov. 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 (1)

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