Fare is the money you pay to ride on a bus, train, subway, taxi, or other form of public transportation. When you board a city bus, you might drop coins into a box or scan a card to pay your fare. A taxi driver calculates your fare based on how far you travel.

Fare also means how well or poorly something turns out. If someone asks, “How did you fare on the spelling test?” they want to know how you did. A team might fare well in a tournament if they win most of their games, or fare poorly if they lose. During a harsh winter, animals that can't find enough food might not fare well.

At restaurants, fare can mean the food served, especially when describing a particular style: simple fare might be basic sandwiches and soup, while fancy fare could be an elegant multi-course meal. You might read about “traditional holiday fare,” meaning the typical foods people eat during celebrations.