What is fare? Pronunciation and usage in English

fare means . Learn how to pronounce and use fare through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of fare

farenoun

/fɛː/

The word "fare" has a couple of pronunciations depending on its meaning! Here's a breakdown:

1. As in "ticket fare" (cost of a ride):

  • Pronunciation: FAIR (rhymes with "air")
  • Breakdown:
    • F - as in "fun"
    • A - as in "father"
    • R - as in "red"

2. As in "farewell" (goodbye):

  • Pronunciation: FEER (rhymes with "beer")
  • Breakdown:
    • F - as in "fun"
    • EE - as in "see"
    • R - as in "red"

To help me confirm if you're asking about a specific usage, could you tell me:

  • What context are you encountering the word "fare" in? (e.g., "ticket fare," "farewell," something else entirely?)

Usage and examples with the word fare in English

The word "fare" in English has a few different meanings and usages, depending on the context. Here's a breakdown:

1. As a Verb (Meaning: To Travel - Often Historical)

  • Historically: “Fare” used to mean to travel, particularly by coach or horse-drawn carriage. It’s a very old-fashioned usage and you’ll rarely hear it spoken naturally today.
  • Example: “They fare well on their long journey.” (Meaning: They travel well)

2. As a Noun (Most Common Usage – Meaning: Transportation/Ticket)

This is the most frequent way "fare" is used.

  • Ticket Price: This is the primary meaning. It refers to the cost of a ticket for a bus, train, taxi, or other form of transportation.
    • Example: “The fare for a one-way ticket on the subway is $2.50.”
    • Example: “I need to check the fare to New York City.”
  • General Condition/Well-being (Slang - Often Negative): In informal speech, "fare" can describe someone's overall condition, often in a negative way. Think of it as their general state of being. This usage is somewhat dated and sounds more poetic than everyday.
    • Example: “He's not looking so good; his fare is quite poor.” (Meaning: He looks unwell.)
    • Example: “The weather has taken its toll on her fare.” (Meaning: She looks tired or unwell due to the weather.)

3. As a Noun (Idiomatic – Meaning: A Portion or Serving)

  • Food: This is a less common, but still valid, meaning referring to a portion of food, especially on a journey.
    • Example: “They were served a simple fare on the train.” (Meaning: They were given a small meal.) This usage is primarily associated with long journeys.

Here's a table summarizing the different meanings:

Meaning Part of Speech Example
Travel (Old) Verb “They fare well on their journey.”
Ticket Price Noun “The fare for the bus is $1.00.”
Condition/Well-being Noun “His fare is quite poor.”
Portion of Food Noun “They were served a simple fare.”

Tips for using "fare":

  • Context is key: Pay careful attention to the surrounding words and sentence to understand which meaning is intended.
  • Modern Usage: In almost all contemporary usage, “fare” refers to the price of a ticket.
  • Be aware of slang: Using "fare" to describe someone’s condition can sound old-fashioned or overly dramatic unless you’re intentionally going for a particular effect.

Resources for Further Learning:

Would you like me to:

  • Provide more examples of a specific usage?
  • Explain the historical context of "fare" as a verb?

Synonyms for the word fare

Practice with vocabulary fare

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The research team's initial proposal did not ____ well with the funding committee due to its ambitious timeline.
  2. Before the new regulations, the daily public transport ____ was considerably lower for commuters.
  3. Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application ____ when submitting their postgraduate enrollment forms.
  4. The consultant provided invaluable ____ on optimizing our supply chain management processes.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. After the initial launch, analysts will closely monitor how the new sustainable investment fund ____ in the global market. a) develop b) fare c) progress d) expand

  2. The exorbitant bus ____ deterred many low-income residents from regularly using public transportation. a) cost b) charge c) fare d) rate

  3. Despite the challenging economic climate, the startup managed to ____ remarkably well in its first year of operation, exceeding all revenue projections. a) thrive b) fare c) survive d) grow

  4. Our department is planning a business ____ to the regional headquarters next month to finalize the merger details. a) journey b) trip c) voyage d) excursion

  5. The human resources ____ is currently undergoing a restructuring to improve employee engagement strategies. a) personal b) personnel c) person d) persons

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The students performed poorly on the unexpected pop quiz. Rewrite: The students did not ____ well on the unexpected pop quiz.

  2. Original: The cost of a plane ticket has increased significantly in recent years. Rewrite: The air ____ has increased significantly in recent years.

  3. Original: It is important to assess the impact of these changes. Rewrite: It is crucial to ____ the repercussions of these modifications.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. fare
  2. fare
  3. fee
  4. feedback

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) fare, c) progress
  2. a) cost, b) charge, c) fare
  3. a) thrive, b) fare, c) survive, d) grow
  4. b) trip, a) journey
  5. b) personnel

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The students did not fare well on the unexpected pop quiz.
  2. The air fare has increased significantly in recent years.
  3. It is crucial to gauge the repercussions of these modifications.

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