dares; dared; daring
1
: to have enough courage or confidence to do something : to not be too afraid to do something
Try it if you dare.
We wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
—often followed by to + verbWe didn't dare to stop.
No one dared to say anything.
It was more than I had dared to hope for.
She won their respect by daring to ask questions.
—often followed by an infinitive verb without toWe didn't dare stop. = We dared not stop.
No one dared say anything.
It was more than I had dared hope for.
I need to know, but I don't dare ask.
I wouldn't dare do it alone. = (formal) I dare not do it alone.
Do we dare ask why? = Dare we ask why?
2
: to do (something that is difficult or that people are usually afraid to do)
The actress dared a new interpretation of the classic role.
3
: to tell (someone) to do something especially as a way of showing courage
She dared him to dive off the bridge.
She dared me to ask him out on a date. I did, and he said yes.
plural dares
: the act of telling someone to do something as a way of showing courage
—usually singular
He dared her to go, but she refused to take/accept the dare.
(US) He jumped from the bridge on a dare. = (Brit) He jumped from the bridge for a dare. [=someone dared him to jump from the bridge]
Cite this Entry
“Dare.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/dare. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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