threaten

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to be a menacing indication of something:'The clouds threaten rain'

   Danger threatens

2. 2
   verb

   To make a threat against someone; to use threats.

   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.

3. 3
   verb

   To menace, or be dangerous.

   The rocks threatened the ship's survival.

4. 4
   verb

   To portend, or give a warning of.

   The black clouds threatened heavy rain.

5. 5
   verb

   To call into question the validity of (a belief, idea, or viewpoint); to challenge.

   The new information threatened our original hypothesis.

6. 6
   verb

   To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.); to challenge.

   The player quickly surmised that things weren't kosher and the suddenly wiser ballplayer threatened the world record for the fifty-yard dash as he sought safety. As Reynolds dived into the van, Dietz and the other players rolled with laughter.

7. 7
   verb

   to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:'He threatened me when I tried to call the police'

8. 8
   verb

   pose a threat to

Etymology

From Middle English thretenen, from Old English þrēatnian (“to urge, force, compel”), equivalent to threat + -en.