1state one’s intention to take hostile action against (someone) in retribution for something done or not done:how dare you threaten me?the men threatened staff with a handgun [with direct speech]:‘I might sue for damages,’ he threatened
state one’s intention to do (something undesirable) in retribution:the trade unions threatened a general strike [with infinitive]:she forced a scene and Toby threatened to leave
2cause (someone or something) to be vulnerable or at risk; endanger:a broken finger threatened his careerone of four London hospitals threatened with closure
[with infinitive] seem likely to produce an unpleasant or unwelcome result:the dispute threatened to spread to other cities [with object]:the air was raw and threatened rain
[no object] (of something undesirable) seem likely to occur:unless war threatened, national politics remained the focus of attention
