To endanger means to put someone or something in a situation where harm or destruction becomes possible. When you endanger something, you create risk or danger where it might not have existed before.

A hiker who wanders off the marked trail in a snowstorm endangers herself by getting lost where rescuers can't find her. A driver who speeds through a school zone endangers children crossing the street. Scientists warn that pollution endangers coral reefs by making ocean water too warm for the coral to survive.

The word often appears when discussing protection and safety. We have endangered species like giant pandas or blue whales, animals at serious risk of disappearing from Earth entirely. Laws prohibit endangering others through reckless behavior.

Notice the difference between danger and endangerment: danger is the threat itself, while endangering is the act of creating that threat. A lightning storm is dangerous, but standing under a tall tree during that storm endangers you. When you recognize what might endanger you or others, you can make smarter choices about staying safe.