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

Russell’s previous things, HBO put money into, but the whole anti-DEI crusade has meant that a subject matter like this has made American companies scared to invest in it. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Spinning blades get tangled in vegetation, stir up sediment, and simply scare away the fish researchers are trying to observe. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

Back at home, Bret has another scare when a figure who looks an awful lot like the Trawler cuts the power and lurks ominously in the backyard. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

The health scare left him temporarily paralyzed on his left side and required him to undergo brain surgery. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 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