Dare or dear?
dare is a verb meaning “To have enough courage (to do something)”; dear is an adjective meaning “High in price; expensive”. Use dare as a verb and dear as an adjective. In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) dear is about 2.9 times as common as dare.
What is the difference between dare and dear?
| dare | dear | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | verb, noun | adjective, noun, verb, adverb, interjection |
| Meaning | To have enough courage (to do something) To defy or challenge (someone to do something) A challenge to prove courage | IrelandUKHigh in price; expensive Loved; lovable A very kind, loving person |
| Example | I wouldn't dare (to) argue with my boss | The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed |
| Forms | dares, daring, dared | dearer, dearest |
| Pronunciation | /dɛə/ /dɛ(ə)ɹ/ | /dɪə/ /dɪɹ/ |
| In writing | 20 times per million words | 59 times per million words |
Sources: dare and dear in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of dare and dear
dare
- 1
To have enough courage (to do something)
I wouldn't dare (to) argue with my boss
- 2
A challenge to prove courage
I did it just for a dare
- 3
A small fish, the dace
- 4
To defy or challenge (someone to do something)
I dare you to kiss that girl
- 5
The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness
- 6
To have enough courage to meet or do something, go somewhere, etc.; to face up to
Will you dare death to reach your goal?
- 7
Defiance; challenge
- 8
To terrify; to daunt
dear
- 1
IrelandUKHigh in price; expensive
The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed
- 2
A very kind, loving person
My little cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures
- 3
Dearly; at a high price
- 4
Indicating surprise, pity, or disapproval
Dear, dear! Whatever were they thinking?
- 5
Severe, or severely affected; sore
- 6
Loved; lovable
- 7
A beloved person
- 8
Lovely; kind
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, dare or dear?
dare appears 20 times per million words; dear 59 times per million words.
dare 20 times per million wordsdear 59 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).