threaten

Word parts

threat + -en

Pronunciation

• enPR: thrĕt′n̩, IPA ^(key): /ˈθrɛt.n̩/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: threat‧en

Verb

Plain form threaten

Third-person singular threatens

Past tense threatened

Past participle threatened

Present participle threatening

1. To make a threat against someone; to say that you are going to do something harmful to that person

   After Joe ran off with Fred's wife, Fred threatened to kill him.