1. to say that you will hurt or punish someone if they do not do what you want
2. to be likely to cause harm or damage to something
3. to be likely to happen in an unwanted or unpleasant way

Examples

• The bully threatened to beat up the younger student.
• She threatened to quit if her demands weren’t met.
• Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities.
• The drought threatens this year’s harvest.
• Dark clouds threaten rain for the picnic.
• The economic crisis threatens to spread globally.
• He was arrested for threatening a police officer.