threaten
/ˈθɹɛt.n̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: threatens
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To make a threat against someone; to use threats.
Verb
Examples
No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To menace, or be dangerous.
Verb
Examples
The rocks threatened the ship's survival.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “threaten” mean?
To make a threat against someone; to use threats.
Is “threaten” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.