dare

6 definitions • 19 examples

to be brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous, or to be rude or silly enough to do something that you have no right to do:

I was going to ask if his dog was better, but I didn't dare in case she had died.

[ + (to) infinitive ] Everyone in the office complains that he smells awful, but nobody dares (to) mention it to him.

[ + infinitive without to ] I wouldn't dare have a party in my flat in case the neighbours complained.

Dare you tell him the news?

I don't dare think how much it's going to cost.

UK I daren't think how much it's going to cost.

UK Do you dare (to) tell him the news?

I'd never dare (to) talk to my mother the way Brandon talks to his.

[ + to infinitive ] He was under attack for daring to criticize the mayor.

to ask someone to do something that involves risk:

Wear the low-cut blouse with your pink shorts - go on, I dare you!

[ + to infinitive ] I dare you to ask him to dance.

something you do because someone dares you to:

as a dare He jumped in the river at twelve o'clock last night as a dare.

for a dare UK He climbed up the tree for a dare after a night out with friends.

on a dare US On a dare, she slept in a room that is said to be haunted by the ghost of Lord Nelson.

to be brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous or that you should not do:

[ T ] She wouldn’t dare go out alone there at night.

[ I ] He wanted to touch it, but he didn’t dare.

[ +to infinitive ] I can’t believe you dare to talk to me this way!

to ask someone to do something that involves risk:

I dare you to ask him to dance.

something difficult or dangerous that you do because someone asks you to do it:

He jumped into the river on a dare.