threaten
Translation
to threaten, to menace, to be likely to happen
Examples
He threatened the staff with a weapon.
He threatened the staff with a weapon.
She threatened to tell their parents.
She threatened to tell their parents.
The dark clouds threatened rain.
The dark clouds threatened rain.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.)) to threaten (sb.) to say you will harm (sb.) The man threatened the shopkeeper.
((to-inf)) to threaten to do (sth.) to say you will do (sth.) unpleasant He threatened to call the police.
((sb.)) ((with sth.)) to threaten (sb.) with (sth.) to say you will use (sth.) to harm (sb.) They threatened him with legal action.
Similar Words
Etymology
From the noun 'threat' plus the verb-forming suffix '-en'.
Memory Tips
The '-en' at the end often turns a noun into a verb (e.g., wide -> widen). Here, 'threat' (noun) becomes 'threaten' (verb).