I. dare 1 S3 W3 /deə $ der/ BrE AmE verb , modal verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ dare , ↑ daring ; verb : ↑ dare ; adverb : ↑ daringly ; adjective : ↑ daring ]
1 . [intransitive not in progressive] to be brave enough to do something that is risky or that you are afraid to do – used especially in questions or negative sentences:
He wanted to ask her, but he didn’t dare.
‘I’ll tell Dad.’ ‘You wouldn’t dare!’
dare (to) do something
I daren’t go home.
Only a few journalists dared to cover the story.
She hardly dared hope that he was alive.
Dare we admit this?
GRAMMAR
Dare can be used like a modal verb, followed by an infinitive without 'to', in negative sentences and questions:
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I am so afraid that I dare not move.
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Dare she ring him at the office?
It can also be used as an ordinary verb, followed by an infinitive with or without 'to':
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Nobody dared to ask any questions.
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No wonder the party did not dare publish that document.
The past form is dared for both uses.
2 . how dare you spoken said to show that you are very angry and shocked about what someone has done or said:
How dare you accuse me of lying!
3 . don’t you dare! spoken said to warn someone not to do something because it makes you angry:
Don’t you dare talk to me like that!
4 . [transitive] to try to persuade someone to do something dangerous or embarrassing as a way of proving that they are brave
dare somebody to do something
They dared Ed to steal a bottle of his father’s whiskey.
So jump, then. I dare you.
5 . dare I say/suggest spoken formal used when saying something that you think people may not accept or believe:
I thought the play was, dare I say it, boring.
6 . I dare say ( also I daresay ) spoken especially British English used when saying or agreeing that something may be true:
I dare say things will improve.
II. dare 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ dare , ↑ daring ; verb : ↑ dare ; adverb : ↑ daringly ; adjective : ↑ daring ]
something dangerous that you have dared someone to do
for a dare British English , on a dare American English (=because someone has dared you to)
She ran across a busy road for a dare.