WordGarden.iothreaten
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /θrˈɛtən/
US
- /ˈθrɛtən/
Meanings
Verb
to tell someone that you may harm, punish, or hurt them if they do not do what you want
to put someone or something at risk of harm, damage, loss, or destruction
to seem likely to cause something bad or to happen in an unwelcome way
Beyond the definition
To threaten someone is not just about raising your voice. It is about suggesting that harm may come to them or to something they care about. A dark storm cloud can threaten to bring rain, meaning it could soon cause a heavy shower. A bully might threaten a smaller child, trying to scare them into doing what they want. Sometimes actions can threaten stability, like a rising national debt putting the economy at risk. It is all about creating a sense of danger or possible loss. Think of a growling dog: it threatens to bite, even if it does not actually do so.
To threaten means to express an intention to cause harm, damage, or negative consequences. It can be a direct statement ("I will break your window if you don't stop!"), but it can also be more subtle—a looming danger that suggests potential trouble. For example, "Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities" means they are at risk of being flooded and destroyed.
Threaten isn't always about physical harm. It can involve damaging someone's reputation ("He threatened to reveal her secret") or jeopardizing their well-being ("The lack of funding threatens the future of the program"). It implies a power dynamic, where one party attempts to control another through fear or intimidation.
The word is also used for something that may cause harm. "A virus threatens public health" means it poses a risk to people's well-being. You might say, "His behavior threatened the peace," meaning his actions risked disrupting harmony.
Historically, "threaten" comes from an Old English word for "to press," "to rebuke," or "to punish." While the original sense was about physical pressure or urging, the modern usage carries a strong connotation of danger and impending trouble. Whether it is a spoken warning, a looming disaster, or a risky situation, to threaten is to cast a shadow of possible harm over the future.
Examples
- 1
Crime context
The man threatened the cashier with a knife.
- 2
Warning
She threatened to call the police if he didn't leave.
- 3
Digital messages
He kept threatening me by text after we broke up.
- 4
Job security
Budget cuts are threatening hundreds of local jobs.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Climate risk
Rising sea levels threaten small towns along the coast.
- 6
Conservation
Many animal species are threatened by habitat loss.
- Patternbe threatened by + cause
be in danger because of it
- 7
Election
The scandal could threaten his chances of becoming mayor.
- 8
Weather
Dark clouds threatened to ruin the picnic.
- Patternthreaten to + bad result
seem likely to cause it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- threatenverb
Forms
- threatenedpast tenseverb
- threatening-ing formverb
- threatensverb