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 unidentified woman took out a shotgun to try to scare away the adult bear and its two cubs from her dog but was attacked and hospitalized on July 9, according to the authorities. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

To be sure, Iran’s economy is reeling and conventional forces were decimated, but the Islamic Republic has enough combat power to scare away commercial shipping and isn’t deterred from continuing its attacks. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Noun

Moreover, the $63 million price tag was a little lofty for a genre that thrives on low-budget scares. — Brent Lang, Variety, 16 July 2026

Things take an even bigger turn when the trio is interrupted by the arrival of an ambulance to rush Walter patriarch George to the hospital amid a health scare. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 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