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fare

/feə/
IELTSAcademic
noun

The money you pay for a ride on a bus, train, taxi, or other transport. It can also mean a passenger or customer on a vehicle.

  • The bus fare went up last month.
  • We paid the taxi fare in cash.
  • The train carried many regular fares.
verb

To perform in a particular way or to get along in a situation. It is often used with words like well or badly.

  • How did you fare in the exam?
  • She fared well during the interview.
  • The team fared badly in wet weather.

Adinary Nuance

Fare is not the same as price in general. Use fare for travel costs, especially on public transport or taxis. As a verb, fare means “do or get along,” which is different from famous near-neighbors like perform or succeed. In modern English, the verb is more common in formal writing and news than in daily speech.

In other languages

Vietnamese
giá vé
Spanish
tarifa
Chinese
票价
Japanese
運賃
Korean
운임

Etymology

From Old English færan, meaning “to travel” or “to go.” The noun sense about transport money developed later in English.

Common phrases

bus faretaxi faretrain farefared well

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is fare the same as price?
Not exactly. Fare usually means the money paid for transport, like a bus or taxi.
How do I use fare as a verb?
Use it with well or badly: “She fared well in the interview.”
Is fare common in business writing?
The noun is common in travel and transport writing. The verb is more formal.