threaten

threat‧en S3 W2 /ˈθretn/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: verb: ↑threaten; noun: ↑threat; adverb: ↑threateningly; adjective: ↑threatening]
1. [transitive] to say that you will cause someone harm or trouble if they do not do what you want:
Postal workers are threatening a strike if they don’t receive a pay increase.
threaten to do something
He threatened to take them to court.
threaten somebody with something
Doctors are sometimes threatened with violence if they don’t do what patients want.
threaten (that)
Then he became angry and threatened that he would go to the police.
2. [transitive] to be likely to harm or destroy something:
Poaching threatens the survival of the rhino.
threaten to do something
The incident threatens to ruin his chances in the election.
be threatened with something
Large areas of the jungle are now threatened with destruction.
3. [intransitive and transitive] to be likely to happen or be in a bad situation:
Britain’s fishing industry remains threatened.
Dark clouds threatened rain.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

threaten

threat·en [threaten threatens threatened threatening] [ˈθretn] [ˈθretn] verb
1. transitive to say that you will cause trouble, hurt sb, etc. if you do not get what you want
• ~ sb They broke my windows and threatened me.
• ~ sb with sth The attacker threatened them with a gun.
• He was threatened with dismissal if he continued to turn up late for work.
• ~ sth The threatened strike has been called off.
• ~ to do sth The hijackers threatened to kill one passenger every hour if their demands were not met.

• ~ that… They threatened that passengers would be killed.

2. intransitive, transitive to seem likely to happen or cause sth unpleasant
• A storm was threatening.
• When war threatens, people act irrationally.
• ~ to do sth This dispute threatens to split the party.

• ~ sth The clouds threatened rain.

3. transitive ~ sth to be a danger to sth
Syn: endanger, Syn: put at risk
• Pollution is threatening marine life.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English thrēatnian ‘urge or induce, especially by using threats’, from thrēat ‘oppression’, of Germanic origin.
Example Bank:
• I never felt threatened by him.
• Many species are now threatened with extinction.
• Our marriage was constantly threatened by his other women.
• Our way of life is gravely threatened.
• She had repeatedly threatened to commit suicide.
• She threatened him with a gun.
• social unrest which seriously threatens the stability of the whole area
• Did he ever say anything to suggest that he felt threatened, or that his life was in danger?
• Pollution along the coastline is threatening marine life.
• She claimed that the conflict was threatening stability in the region.
• The hijackers threatened to kill the passengers if their demands were not met.

• The union threatened that unless the new rules were withdrawn, they would call a strike.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

threaten / ˈθret. ə n / verb

B2 [ T ] to tell someone that you will kill or hurt them, or cause problems for them if they do not do what you want:

They threatened the shopkeeper with a gun.

[ + to infinitive ] They threatened to kill him unless he did as they asked.

C1 [ T ] to be likely to cause harm or damage to something or someone:

Changing patterns of agriculture are threatening the countryside.

C2 [ I ] If something bad threatens to happen, it is likely to happen:

Look at those clouds! There's a storm threatening.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

threaten

/θret(ə)n/
(threatens, threatening, threatened)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
If a person threatens to do something unpleasant to you, or if they threaten you, they say or imply that they will do something unpleasant to you, especially if you do not do what they want.
He said army officers had threatened to destroy the town...
He tied her up and threatened her with a six-inch knife...
If you threaten me or use any force, I shall inform the police.
VERB: V to-inf, V n with n, V n, also V that

2.
If something or someone threatens a person or thing, they are likely to harm that person or thing.
The newcomers directly threaten the livelihood of the established workers...
30 percent of reptiles, birds, and fish are currently threatened with extinction.
VERB: V n, be V-ed with n

3.
If something unpleasant threatens to happen, it seems likely to happen.
The fighting is threatening to turn into full-scale war...
VERB: V to-inf

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

threaten

threat·en /ˈɵrɛtn̩/ verb -ens; -ened; -en·ing
1 [+ obj] : to say that you will harm someone or do something unpleasant or unwanted especially in order to make someone do what you want
• The mugger threatened him with a gun.
• He threatened to tell their boss. = He threatened that he would tell their boss.
• She threatened to quit if they didn't give her a raise, but no one believed her.
• He tried to get what he wanted by threatening people (with violence).
• The workers have threatened to strike if their demands are not met. = The workers have threatened a strike if their demands are not met.
• The kidnapper threatened to kill her. = The kidnapper threatened her life.
2 a : to be something that is likely to cause harm to (someone or something) : to be a threat to (someone or something)

[+ obj]

• Civil war has been threatening the country for years.
• a marriage threatened by financial problems
• Overfishing threatens the survival of certain fish species.
• She felt (emotionally) threatened by his friendships with female coworkers.

[no obj]

• Disaster threatens.
b
- used to say that something bad or harmful appears likely or possible;

[+ obj]

• The clouds were threatening rain. [=the clouds made it appear that it was likely to rain]
• The latest news threatens trouble for the economy.

[no obj]

• It looks like it's threatening to rain. [=it looks like it may rain]
- threat·en·ing /ˈɵrɛtn̩ɪŋ/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• a threatening comment
• threatening clouds
• I find your competitiveness a little threatening.
- threat·en·ing·ly /ˈɵrɛtn̩ɪŋli/ adv
• The sky darkened threateningly.