fare

1 of 2

verb

ˈfer 

fared; faring

intransitive verb

1

: get along, succeed

how did you fare on your exam?

2

: go, travel

3

: eat, dine

fare

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the price charged to transport a person

b

: a paying passenger on a public conveyance

2

a

: range of food : diet

b

: material provided for use, consumption, or enjoyment

Synonyms

Verb

• cope
• do
• get along
• get by
• get on
• make out
• manage
• shift

Noun

• bread
• chow
• chuck [chiefly West]
• comestibles
• eatables
• eats
• edibles
• food
• foodstuffs
• grub
• meat
• provender
• provisions
• table
• tucker [chiefly Australian]
• viands
• victuals
• vittles

Examples of fare in a Sentence

Verb

The Mystery Maid, a halibut and black cod schooner, had fared badly of late and was in the process of being overhauled. —David Guterson, Snow Falling On Cedars, 1994

… genuinely new creations do not usually fare well with mainstream publishers in any age. —Erica Jong, New York Times Book Review, 5 June 1988

Back upstairs, I put on a gold lamé dress and fared forth to the first big dinner of 1968 … —Lady Bird Johnson 25 Jan. 1968, in A White House Diary,  1970

residents of the flood-ravaged town are faring much better than one might have expected

families can be seen faring along the road to the campground while driving or towing all manner of conveyance

Noun

Bush and Siberry's sixth albums find them trying harder than before to reach an audience less willing to indulge their wanderings—both albums communicate more directly, and sound more familiar, than their usual fairy-tale fare. —Ann Powers, Village Voice, 7 Dec. 1993

Who would ever consider robbing this place for more than getaway bus fare? —Amy Tan, The Kitchen God's Wife, 1991

As for Ronald Reagan, solid heartland fare like macaroni and cheese and hamburger soup is his favorite … —Guy D. Garcia, Time, 14 Mar. 1988

I need some coins for the bus fare.

The taxi driver picked up his fares at the airport.

Less expensive fare is available at the restaurant across the street.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The countries that are making a good faith effort to address the problems will fare better than those in denial or unable to move. —Frank Lavin, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Le Pen’s party has historically fared better in these races than in France’s Presidential or legislative elections. —Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024

Noun

And now, so are Indian gastronomic artworks created only with vegetables, Japanese fare based on Provençal products and custom tableware meant to play and provoke. —Ann Abel, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

All of the fares listed have availability on select days throughout the end of 2024, and are available for purchase in Allegiant's lowest class of service, however passengers can select add-ons for a bundle that includes a carry-on item, seat assignment, and priority access for an additional fee. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English faren, from Old English faran; akin to Old High German faran to go, Latin portare to carry, Greek peran to pass through, poros passage, journey

Noun

Middle English, journey, passage, supply of food, from Old English faru, fær; akin to Old English faran to go

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing fare

• bill of fare
• fare-thee-well
• fare-you-well

Kids Definition

fare

1 of 2 verb

ˈfa(ə)r 

ˈfe(ə)r

fared; faring

1

: go entry 1 sense 1, travel

2

: to proceed toward a goal : succeed

fared well on the test

3

: eat sense 1, dine

fare

2 of 2 noun

1

: food sense 1

a café serving light fare

2

a

: the money a person pays to travel by public transportation (as a bus)

b

: a person paying a fare : passenger