Danger is the possibility that someone may be harmed or killed.
My friends endured tremendous danger in order to help me.
His life could be in danger.
2. countable noun
A danger is something or someone that can hurt or harm you.
...the dangers of smoking. [+ of]
...the danger of open conflict.
Britain's roads are a danger to cyclists. [+ to]
Public health physicians say there are other dangers, too.
Synonyms: hazard, risk, threat, menace More Synonyms of danger
3. singular noun [NOUN that]
If there is a dangerthat something unpleasant will happen, it is possible that it will happen.
There is a real danger that some people will no longer be able to afford insurance.
There was no danger that any of these groups would be elected to power.
If there is a danger of famine, we should help. [+ of]
Synonyms: possibility, chance, risk, prospect More Synonyms of danger
4.
See out of danger
More Synonyms of danger
danger in British English
(ˈdeɪndʒə)
noun
1.
the state of being vulnerable to injury, loss, or evil; risk
2.
a person or thing that may cause injury, pain, etc
3. obsolete
power
4. in danger of
5. on the danger list
Derived forms
dangerless (ˈdangerless)
adjective
Word origin
C13: daunger power, hence power to inflict injury, from Old French dongier (from Latin dominium ownership) blended with Old French dam injury, from Latin damnum
danger in American English
(ˈdeɪndʒər)
noun
1.
liability to injury, damage, loss or pain; peril
to live in constant danger
2.
a thing that may cause injury, pain, etc.
3. Obsolete
power of a lord, esp. to harm
SYNONYMY NOTE: danger is the general term for liability to injury or evil, of whatever degree or likelihoodof occurrence [the danger of falling on icy walks]; peril suggests great and imminent danger [in peril of death]; jeopardy emphasizes exposure to extreme danger [liberty is in jeopardy under tyrants]; hazard implies a foreseeable but uncontrollable possibility of danger, but stresses theelement of chance [the hazards of hunting big game]; risk implies the voluntary taking of a dangerous chance
OPPOSITES: safety, security
Word origin
ME daunger, power, domination, arrogance < OFr danger, absolute power of an overlord < VL *dominarium < L dominium, lordship < dominus, a master: see dominate
COBUILD Collocations
danger
constant danger
dangers inherent in
face danger
grave danger
hidden dangers
highlight the dangers
imminent danger
inmortal danger
lurking danger
main danger
obvious danger
physical danger
pose a danger
present a danger
sense danger
serious danger
spell danger
spot the danger
terrible danger
underline the dangers
Examples of 'danger' in a sentence
danger
There is a real danger that the grammar proposals would simply undermine them instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The great danger is that this combination of complacency and recklessness will provoke an accidental conflict.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The biggest danger for us is us.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They also want studies into the possible dangers from using electronic nicotine devices.
The Sun (2016)
Trading Standards says that its priority is issues where lives may be in danger.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The MPs have warned that any delay in the modernisation would bring real dangers.
The Sun (2016)
The move will be welcomed by those who accuse the government of doing too little to warn people about the dangers of air pollution.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is also the danger of people spending the whole pot at 60 and not having a longterm savings structure in place.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We know, from dire experience, the great dangers of being impressed by a cool look.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is a real danger of waiting too long.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The second great danger is using our theological position to obtain human power and prestige.
Christianity Today (2000)
Horses are quick to react to signs of danger and pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
These people are not sensitive to the dangers and risks involved.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Time to fly into the danger zone.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This means there is a danger that you may actually get back less than you put in.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The slight drop in trip is ideal and he is a big danger.
The Sun (2009)
The public must be made aware of the possible dangers of food preservative consumption.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is a pursuit that contains danger and the possibility of arrest.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The first is the potential danger to the health of the consumer.
Lockspeiser, Jerry & Gear, Jackie Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
It was not danger or evil which caused his attack on me.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
Why does the system allow known dangers out to harm again and again?
The Sun (2012)
Then there is the obvious danger of injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
For all they knew he was a real danger.
The Sun (2008)
The great danger is complacency that somehow the economic recovery is now on autopilot.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Read more about the dangers of being risk averse in our story opposite.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The probability of conceding a free kick in the danger zone is reduced.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The danger remains he may return to this honey pot.
The Sun (2006)
The biggest danger to fungi is pollution.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And there was a real danger that people would lose confidence in our ability to pay our debts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There are people in danger because they know too much and others in danger becausethey know too little.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Think of the cost, the pain and the danger of something going horribly wrong.
The Sun (2008)
Quotations
danger, the spur of all great mindsGeorge ChapmanThe Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois
In other languages
danger
British English: danger /ˈdeɪndʒə/ NOUN
Danger is the possibility that someone may be harmed or killed.
My friends risked tremendous danger in order to help me.
American English: danger
Arabic: خَطَر
Brazilian Portuguese: perigo
Chinese: 危险
Croatian: opasnost
Czech: nebezpečí
Danish: fare
Dutch: gevaar
European Spanish: peligro
Finnish: vaara
French: danger
German: Gefahr
Greek: κίνδυνος
Italian: pericolo
Japanese: 危険
Korean: 위험
Norwegian: fare
Polish: niebezpieczeństwo
European Portuguese: perigo
Romanian: pericol
Russian: опасность
Latin American Spanish: peligro
Swedish: fara farlighet
Thai: อันตราย
Turkish: tehlike
Ukrainian: небезпека
Vietnamese: sự nguy hiểm
Chinese translation of 'danger'
danger
(ˈdeɪndʒəʳ)
n
(u) (= unsafe situation) 危险(險) (wēixiǎn)
(c) (= hazard, risk) 威胁(脅) (wēixié) (个(個), gè)
there is a danger of/that ... 有 ... 的危险(險) (yǒu ... de wēixiǎn)
"danger!" (on sign) "危险(險)！" ("Wēixiǎn! ")
your life is/you are in danger你有生命危险(險)/你有危险(險) (nǐ yǒu shēngmìng wēixiǎn/nǐ yǒu wēixiǎn)
to put sb/sb's life in danger危及某人/某人的生命 (Wēijí mǒurén/mǒurén de shēngmìng)
to be in danger of doing sth有 ... 的危险(險) (yǒu ... de wēixiǎn)
out of danger[patient]脱(脫)离(離)危险(險) (tuōlí wēixiǎn)
to be a danger to sb/sth是对(對)某人/某物的威胁(脅) (shì duì mǒurén/mǒuwù de wēixié)