scare

[ skair ]

/ skɛər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scare ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), scared, scar·ing.

to fill, especially suddenly, with fear or terror; frighten; alarm.

verb (used without object), scared, scar·ing.

to become frightened: That horse scares easily.

noun

a sudden fright or alarm, especially with little or no reason.

a time or condition of alarm or worry: For three months there was a war scare.

Verb Phrases

scare up, Informal. to obtain with effort; find or gather: to scare up money.

Nearby words

Origin of scare

1150–1200; (v.) Middle English skerren < Old Norse skirra to frighten, derivative of skjarr timid, shy; (noun) late Middle English skere, derivative of the v.

SYNONYMS FOR scare

1 startle, intimidate. See frighten.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scare ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsscar·er, nounscar·ing·ly, adverbun·scared, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scare

Mrs. Deshales ordered an ambulance, which managed to scare off Wahlberg and his pals.
Mark Wahlberg’s Pardon Plea: A Look Back At His Troubling, Violent, and Racist Rap Sheet|Marlow Stern|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As we have seen, it is not just the fact that they scare people.
Does Free Speech Cover Murder Fantasies? The Supreme Court’s Definition of a ‘Threat’|Geoffrey R. Stone|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An HIV scare, Rand Paul talking points, and a (maybe) proposition.
My Bizarre Night With James Deen, Libertarian Porn Star|Emily Shire|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It really isn't a tall order to scare Americans these days, and in particular our delicate representatives in Washington.
The Fear About Things That Won't Kill Us Is Killing Us|Cliff Schecter|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Propane cannons boom every 10 seconds, 24/7/365 to scare away the birds.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I would not allow that paper, blown by the wind, to scare me from the highway of the argument!
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 10 (of 12)|Robert G. Ingersoll
He had never once mentioned her husband's name, fearing to scare her, or to sting her pride.
Petticoat Rule|Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
They gave me a scare all right, yesterday, and I'm wanting to even up the score.
The Outdoor Chums in the Forest|Quincy Allen
She'll scare away everything that breathes with her aristocratic death's head.
Pandora's Box|Frank Wedekind
His six feet three inches of bone and sinew was usually sufficient to scare off any trouble-seekers.
Colorado Jim|George Goodchild

British Dictionary definitions for scare

scare

/ (skɛə) /

verb

to fill or be filled with fear or alarm

(tr; often foll by away or off) to drive (away) by frightening

(tr) US and Canadian informal (foll by up)

to produce (a meal) quickly from whatever is available
to manage to find (something) quickly or with difficultybrewers need to scare up more sales

noun

a sudden attack of fear or alarm

a period of general fear or alarm

adjective

causing (needless) fear or alarma scare story

Derived Formsscarer, noun

Word Origin for scare

C12: from Old Norse skirra; related to Norwegian skjerra, Swedish dialect skjarra

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for scare (1 of 2)

scare

1590s, alteration of Middle English skerren (c.1200), from Old Norse skirra "to frighten; to shrink from, shun; to prevent, avert," related to skjarr "timid, shy, afraid of," of unknown origin. In Scottish also skair, skar, and in dialectal English skeer, skear, which seems to preserve the older pronunciation. To scare up "procure, obtain" is first recorded 1846, American English, from notion of rousing game from cover. Related: Scared; scaring.

Word Origin and History for scare (1 of 2)

scare

"something that frightens; sudden panic, sudden terror inspired by a trifling cause, false alarm," 1520s, alteration of Middle English sker "fear, dread" (c.1400), from scare (v.). Scare tactic attested from 1948.

Idioms and Phrases with scare

scare

In addition to the idioms beginning with scare

scare out of one's wits
scare up

also see:

run scared

scare

verb (used with object), scared, scar·ing.

verb (used without object), scared, scar·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

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Nearby words

Origin of scare

Examples from the Web for scare

British Dictionary definitions for scare

scare

verb

noun

adjective

Word Origin for scare

Word Origin and History for scare (1 of 2)

scare

Word Origin and History for scare (1 of 2)

scare

Idioms and Phrases with scare

scare