A threat is a warning that someone will harm you or cause trouble if you don't do what they want. When a bully says “Give me your lunch money or else,” that or else is a threat. The bully is trying to scare you into doing something by making you worry about what might happen if you refuse.

Threats work by creating fear. Someone making a threat wants you to believe they have the power to hurt you, take something from you, or make your life difficult. A threat might be spoken out loud, written in a note, or even communicated through an angry look or gesture.

The word also describes any danger or possible harm, even when no person is involved. Dark clouds are a threat of rain. A crumbling bridge poses a threat to drivers. In this sense, a threat is anything that could cause damage or problems.

People sometimes use softer language and say someone has been threatened rather than directly quoting the threat itself. Organizations track threat levels to measure how dangerous a situation might become. When something is threatening, it seems dangerous or creates worry, like threatening storm clouds gathering overhead.