Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » threat

threat

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a threat is a statement of an intent to harm or punish, or a something that presents an imminent danger or harm.

(noun)

If you tell someone "I am going to kill you," this is an example of a threat.
A person who has the potential to blow up a building is an example of a threat.
When it appears as if it is going to rain, this is an example of a situation where there is a threat of rain.

See threat in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an expression of intention to hurt, destroy, punish, etc., as in retaliation or intimidation
1. an indication of imminent danger, harm, evil, etc.: the threat of war
2. a potential source of this

Origin: ME threte < OE threat, a throng, painful pressure, akin to Ger (ver)driessen, to grieve, annoy < IE *treud-, to push, press (prob. < base *ter-, to rub) > L trudere, to thrust

transitive verb, intransitive verb

Obsolete threaten

See threat in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun