threaten
/ˈθɹɛt.n̩/ verb B2- To make a threat against someone; to use threats. · He threatened me with a knife.
- To menace, or be dangerous. · The rocks threatened the ship's survival.
- To portend, or give a warning of. · The black clouds threatened heavy rain.
- To call into question the validity of (a belief, idea, or viewpoint); to challenge. · The new information threatened our original hypothesis.
- To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.); to challenge.
He/she/it threatens · Past threatened · Past participle threatened · -ing form threatening
Verb forms
- Base form
- threaten
- He/she/it
- threatens
- Past
- threatened
- Past participle
- threatened
- -ing form
- threatening
From the library
The girl had to work hard during the day, and often the Witch threatened to beat her with the same old umbrella she always carried in her hand.
She talked to Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened her by turns.
A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman or hound.
The Swan, threatened with death, burst forth into song and thus made himself known by his voice, and preserved his life by his melody.
Learn threaten in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.