endanger
Americanverb (used with object)
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endangers,
present (3rd person singular)
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endangered,
past participle, past
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endangering
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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endangersimple
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endangerssimple
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have endangeredperfect
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has endangeredperfect
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am endangeringprogressive
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are endangeringprogressive
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is endangeringprogressive
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have been endangeringperfect progressive
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has been endangeringperfect progressive
Past
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endangeredsimple
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had endangeredperfect
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was endangeringprogressive
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were endangeringprogressive
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had been endangeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of endanger
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at en- 1, danger
Explanation
To endanger someone is to put them in a dangerous position, or to threaten their safety. It would endanger your little brother if you encouraged him to jump off the garage roof into a pile of leaves. Texting while you drive is a good way to endanger yourself, as well as your passengers and anyone else nearby. Scientists warn that climate change will slowly begin to endanger many plant and animal species on Earth, possibly including humans. This 15th century word combines the prefix en-, "make or put in" with danger, from the Old French dangier, "power to harm."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In his opinion, it could also endanger the artificial-intelligence capital-expenditure boom.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
According to the rules taking effect on Tuesday, Chinese citizens may be prohibited from leaving the country if they violate technology import and export regulations that "may endanger national industrial or technological security".
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Mr. Mitchell also warns, without providing evidence of precedents, that disclosure could endanger dissidents or their families.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Lana warned against approaching Anak Krakatoa saying materials ejected from the volcano could endanger those within the exclusion zone.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
Any mistake in the foundation could endanger the wall that was to be built on top of it.
From "Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction" by David Macaulay
Although it endangers his secret Traitor identity, he tries to protect Funches.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
The judge emphasized that Dobbs focused on a right to elective abortion, while Seyb’s case “tests how far Idaho may go when a woman’s pregnancy severely endangers her health.”
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
Pope Leo XIV may be right in the long-term that artificial intelligence endangers humanity, but investors are ignoring him in the short-term as they try cashing in on Wall Street’s hottest theme.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
An emissions proposal from the International Maritime Organization endangers the industry—and all of commercial shipping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
But for the Director, even the slightest disobedience endangers his vision of his absolute authority in here.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
The births follow the zoo's success last November in breeding the Atewa slippery frog, another critically endangered species from the same forest, which had also never been bred in captivity before.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
And firm names with a long list of partners are increasingly endangered; one or two names are in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The project, which started in 2025, works with conservation partners and volunteer groups across Northumberland, Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and southern Scotland to raise awareness of the endangered species.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
"The research is particularly important for the endangered Australian sea lion, which has an estimated population of only about 12,000 animals and relies on hearing for communication, finding food, navigation and detecting threats," Erbe said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
“Well, peregrines are an endangered species,” he said.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
Without collecting race and ethnicity data in the census, these estimates could not be produced, needlessly wasting resources and endangering lives.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
If you never go out without sunscreen, you may be endangering your health.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
A teenager who piloted a dinghy carrying a then-record 165 migrants across the English Channel to the UK has pleaded guilty to endangering others during a sea crossing.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
A jury in New Mexico previously ordered Meta to pay $375 million after it found the company liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms, among other harms.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
All that hard work, solving the clues, burning midnight oil, endangering the lives of his friends, it had all come to nothing.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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