The meaning of Defy

noun

An act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct.

Usage examples:

A breach of confidence

verb

Make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defence).

Usage examples:

The river breached its bank

verb

Separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.

Usage examples:

The branch broke with a loud snap

noun

An interruption of continuity or uniformity.

Usage examples:

The magazine has been published without a break since 1950

noun

Former term for breaking cart.

noun

A call to someone to participate in a competitive situation or fight to decide who is superior in terms of ability or strength.

Usage examples:

He accepted the challenge

verb

Exposure of the immune system to pathogenic organisms or antigens.

Usage examples:

Recently vaccinated calves should be protected from challenge

noun

Something needing great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully, or the situation of facing this kind of effort

Usage examples:

[ c ] it’s a challenge being in a marriage when both partners have high-pressure jobs., [ c ] no ma…

noun

A male bird, especially of a domestic fowl.

Usage examples:

Pheasants are handsome birds, especially the cocks, which are larger than the hens.

verb

Tilt (something) in a particular direction.

Usage examples:

She cocked her head slightly to one side

verb

Pile (hay or other material) into cocks.

Usage examples:

It does not rake the grass into rows, nor cock it

verb

Offend against the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct).

Usage examples:

He contravened the official secrets act

verb

To not obey a rule or law, or to not do what you promised

Usage examples:

The toy manufacturer contravened safety codes by using toxic paints on its dolls.

verb

Have the courage to do something.

Usage examples:

A story he dare not write down

noun

A challenge, especially to prove courage.

Usage examples:

She ran across a main road for a dare

verb

Archaic or regional past of dare.

verb

Fail to obey (rules, a command, or someone in authority).

Usage examples:

Around 1,000 soldiers had disobeyed orders and surrendered

verb

To intentionally fail to do what you are told or expected to do; not obey

Usage examples:

[ t ] half of the city’s drivers tend to disobey rules and behave poorly.

verb

Pay no attention to; ignore.

Usage examples:

The body of evidence is too substantial to disregard

noun

The action or state of paying no attention to something.

Usage examples:

Blatant disregard for the law

noun

Lack of consideration or respect

Usage examples:

The writer has shown a reckless disregard for the truth., the jury was told to disregard the commen…

verb

Openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention).

Usage examples:

The advertising code is being flouted

verb

Treat with contemptuous disregard

verb

To intentionally disobey a rule or law, or to intentionally avoid behavior that is usual or expected

Usage examples:

They think they can flout the law and get away with it., he conducted business in his pajamas to fl…

phrasal verb

Resist

phrasal verb

To oppose or be in disagreement with something or someone

Usage examples:

What you’re asking me to do goes against everything i believe in., anytime they go against each oth…

verb

Refuse to take notice of or acknowledge; disregard intentionally.

Usage examples:

He ignored her outraged question

verb

Refuse to acknowledge

verb

To give no attention to something or someone

Usage examples:

They ignored our warnings., the mayor ignored the hecklers and went on with her speech.

verb

Actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.).

Usage examples:

Making an unauthorized copy would infringe copyright

phrase

Issue a challenge.

Usage examples:

He threw down the gauntlet to cabinet colleagues

phrase

Issue a challenge.

Usage examples:

He threw down the gauntlet to cabinet colleagues

idiom

To invite someone to fight or compete with you

Usage examples:

A price war looks likely now that a leading supermarket has thrown down the gauntlet to its competi…

verb

Break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement).

Usage examples:

They violated the terms of a ceasefire

verb

Fail to agree with; go against

verb

To break or act against something such as a law, agreement, or principle, or to not respect something that should be treated with respect

Usage examples:

The planes appear to have deliberately violated the cease-fire agreement., questions of this kind v…