scare

1 of 2

verb

ˈsker 

scared; scaring

transitive verb

: to frighten especially suddenly : alarm

intransitive verb

: to become scared

scarer noun

scare

2 of 2

noun

1

: a sudden fright

2

: a widespread state of alarm : panic

scare adjective

Synonyms of scare

Verb

• frighten
• terrify
• startle

Noun

• fear
• anxiety
• fearfulness
• panic

Examples of scare in a Sentence

Verb

You scared me. I didn't see you there.

Stop that, you're scaring the children.

Noun

There have been scares about the water supply being contaminated.

fired over their heads in order to throw a scare into them

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Be careful not to scare or surprise anyone with a novelty color-changing bath mat who could potentially fall or injure themselves. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Bassam Tariq After Dark Screenings These soon-to-be-cult-classics are selected to thrill, scare and entertain. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Noun

North Carolinians recently faced a scare when baby goats at a roaming petting zoo tested positive for rabies. — Eva Flowe october 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026

Broadly, the report helped confirm sentiment expressed by multiple Federal Reserve officials that the labor market is mostly sound following a growth scare in 2025. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English skerren, from Old Norse skirra, from skjarr shy, timid

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scare

• bomb scare
• frighten/scare the life out of
• jump scare
• scare away/off
• scare into
• scare quotes
• scare someone to death
• scare up

Rhymes for scare

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

scare

1 of 2 verb

ˈske(ə)r 

ˈska(ə)r

scared; scaring

1

: to frighten suddenly : alarm

2

: to become scared

scare

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sudden fright

2

: a widespread state of alarm : panic