dared; daring; dares or (auxiliary) dare
: to be sufficiently courageous to
no one dared say a word
she dare not let herself love—
G. B. Shaw
G. B. Shaw
: to have sufficient courage
try it if you dare
1
2
: to have the courage to contend against, venture, or try
the actress dared a new interpretation of the classic role
1
: an act or instance of daring (see dare entry 1 sense 1) : challenge
crossed the river on a dare
refused to take the dare
2
: imaginative or vivacious boldness : daring
Dictionary of American Regional English
Synonyms
Examples of dare in a Sentence
Verb
Try it if you dare.
We wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
The actress dared a new interpretation of the classic role.
She dared him to dive off the bridge.
She dared me to ask him out on a date. I did, and he said yes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
Memphis, meanwhile, didn’t make a field goal over the final four minutes of regulation, daring the Huskies to get back in the game.
—Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2024
Instead, the game focuses on something a bit more manageable: drinks and dares.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dare 
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Verb
Reading this news story launched journalist Chris Heath’s multiyear mission to uncover the full story behind the prisoners’ daring bid for freedom.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
Memphis, meanwhile, didn’t make a field goal over the final four minutes of regulation, daring the Huskies to get back in the game.
—Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
Onsite, a full set of identical steel rectangles lies in the grass awaiting a home: an offer, perhaps a dare, for another state to install its own version.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2024
Instead, the game focuses on something a bit more manageable: drinks and dares.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dare
Dictionary Entries Near dare
Cite this Entry
“Dare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dare. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dare
1 of 2 verb
ˈda(ə)r 
ˈde(ə)r
dared; daring
1
a
: to have enough courage : be bold enough to
try it if you dare
b
—used as a helping verb
no one dared say a word
2
: to challenge to perform an action especially as a proof of courage
I dare you
3
: to face boldly
dared the dangerous crossing
dare
2 of 2 noun
: an act or instance of daring : challenge
dived from the bridge on a dare
Biographical Definition
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