Definition of PERIL

peril

Plural: perils

Noun

  • a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
  • a state of danger involving risk
  • a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury
  • A situation of serious and immediate danger.
  • Something that causes, contains, or presents danger.
  • An event which causes a loss, or the risk of a specific such event.

Verb

Verb Forms: periled, periling, perils

  • To put into danger; to imperil or risk harm.
  • pose a threat to; present a danger to
  • put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position
  • To cause to be in danger; to imperil; to risk.

Examples

  • He knew to PERIL his lead by only playing short, low-scoring words.
  • the perils of the jungle (animals and insects, weather, etc.)
  • Your life is in peril.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English peril, from Old French peril, from Latin perīculum. Doublet of periculum.

Scrabble Score: 7

peril: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
peril: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
peril: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

peril: valid Words With Friends Word