endangered

/ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈdeɪndʒərd/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈdān-jərd en-/ (ame, mw)

endangered — adjective

  • endangeredpositive
  • more endangeredcomparative
  • most endangeredsuperlative

1. describes something that is in a situation where it could be harmed, lost, or fa

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes something that is in a situation where it could be harmed, lost, or fail to continue.

例句

Asher worried that his job would be endangered by the new factory automation.

passive: be endangered by [something]

The old library is endangered by the city's plan to build a new shopping center.

同義詞
  • at risk

    broader and less urgent than 'endangered'; used in many contexts

  • threatened

    less severe — 'threatened' means at risk, whereas 'endangered' implies more immediate danger

  • vulnerable

    more formal; often used in official conservation categories

反義詞
  • safe

    not in any danger

  • secure

    firmly protected from harm or loss

文法句型

be endangered

become endangered

remain endangered

endangered + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in passive constructions: 'be endangered'. The subject can refer to abstract things (relationships, traditions) or concrete things (buildings, jobs).

常見錯誤

❌That snake is endangered.' (when meaning it could hurt you)
✅That snake is dangerous.
💡'endangered' means the snake itself is at risk of being harmed; 'dangerous' means it could harm others.
❌The old bridge is endangered, so be careful crossing it.
✅The old bridge is dangerous, so be careful crossing it.
💡'endangered' describes something that could be damaged, not something that could harm you.

2. describes a type of animal or plant that faces a serious risk of disappearing fr

2.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a type of animal or plant that faces a serious risk of disappearing from the world, since only a small number still exist.

例句

The giant panda was removed from the endangered list after conservation efforts succeeded.

collocation: endangered list

Mayumi's research focuses on endangered plants found in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal.

attributive: endangered + noun (plants)

同義詞
  • threatened

    a less urgent conservation category; the species is at risk but not yet endangered

  • at risk of extinction

    phrase that clarifies the specific danger faced by the species

  • vanishing

    more dramatic or poetic; less common in formal conservation writing

反義詞

文法句型

be endangered

be listed as endangered

endangered + noun (species/plants/animals)

用法筆記

Common in formal and scientific contexts. The most frequent collocation is 'endangered species'. Often appears in discussions of conservation, wildlife protection, biodiversity, and environmental law.

常見錯誤

❌Lions are endangered everywhere in Africa.
✅Lions are vulnerable in some parts of Africa.
💡not all rare animals are officially 'endangered'; conservation has specific categories (vulnerable, threatened, endangered, critically endangered).
❌My house plant is endangered because I forgot to water it.
✅My house plant is dying because I forgot to water it.
💡'endangered' refers to an entire species at risk of extinction, not an individual plant.