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dare
1[ dair ]
verb (used without object)
- to have the necessary courage or boldness for something; be bold enough:
You wouldn't dare!
verb (used with object)
auxiliary verb
- to have the necessary courage or boldness to (used chiefly in questions and negatives): He dare not mention the subject again.
How dare you speak to me like that?
He dare not mention the subject again.
noun
- a challenge or provocation posed to someone to test their boldness or courage:
I accepted the dare.
- an action proposed to someone as a challenge or test of boldness or courage: She knew it was going to be a humiliating dare.
Will he be able to complete the dare?
She knew it was going to be a humiliating dare.
verb phrase
Dare
2[ dair ]
noun
- Vir·gin·ia [ver-, jin, -y, uh], 1587–?, daughter of Lost Colony settlers, the first child born in the Americas to English parents.
DARE
3- Dictionary of American Regional English.
dare
/ dɛə /
verb
- tr to challenge (a person to do something) as proof of courage
- can take an infinitive with or without to to be courageous enough to try (to do something)
she dares to dress differently from the others
you wouldn't dare!
- rare.tr to oppose without fear; defy
- I dare say or I daresay
- (it is) quite possible (that)
- probably: used as sentence substitute
noun
- a challenge to do something as proof of courage
- something done in response to such a challenge
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Usage
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Derived Forms
- ˈdarer, noun
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Other Words From
- dar·er noun
- re·dare verb (used with object) redared redaring
- un·dared adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of dare1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of dare1
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Idioms and Phrases
- on a dare, in response to being challenged to attempt something dangerous or bold:
She scaled the wall on a dare.
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Synonym Study
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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