What does fare mean?
Fare serves two main purposes in English. As a noun, it most commonly means the price paid for a journey on public transport — a bus fare, air fare, or taxi fare — but it also denotes food, especially when considered as a standard or characteristic offering: a restaurant might serve hearty country fare, and its menu is traditionally called a bill of fare. As a verb, fare means to get along or perform in some way: one might fare well in an exam or badly in a crisis. The word descends from Old English faran, 'to travel,' which also gives us 'travel,' 'wayfarer,' and the parting wish 'farewell.' Its connotations are practical and everyday, tied to journeys and meals rather than emotion. Because it covers both transport pricing and cuisine, fare is a versatile term worth mastering for clear writing about travel, dining, and performance alike.
The money a passenger pays for a journey on a bus, train, aircraft, taxi, or other form of transport.
"She fumbled for change to pay her bus fare."
Often used attributively, as in 'fare increase' or 'fare evasion'.
Food offered or served, especially as characteristic or standard offerings; a menu.
"The pub serves traditional British fare — pies, roasts, and puddings."
To get along, perform, or progress in a specified way.
"Small businesses fared surprisingly well during the downturn."
Usually paired with an adverb such as well, badly, or poorly.
Standard plural used chiefly of transport prices: 'fares rose twice this year.' The food sense is usually uncountable, though 'fares' can appear on menus.
"The airline slashed its fares ahead of the holiday season."
The words 'fare' and 'farewell' share a root: to bid someone farewell was literally to wish them well on their travels.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fare
Fare derives from the Old English verb faran, meaning 'to go or travel', which traces back through Proto-Germanic roots shared with German fahren. The noun originally meant a journey or passage before evolving to mean the payment for one, and separately came to denote provisions or food for a journey, hence its culinary sense. The same root produced 'wayfarer' (a traveller), 'thoroughfare' (a road), 'fieldfare' (a bird), and 'welfare' — literally 'well + fare', wishing someone a good journey, which survives in 'farewell'.
How fare is actually used
Fare as a verb ('how did you fare?') leans formal or literary; in casual speech people more often ask 'how did it go?' The noun sense covering food is common in reviews and menus, where 'local fare' or 'hearty fare' are typical.
Easily confused with fare
Fair describes justice, beauty, or a carnival, while fare refers to transport charges, food, or how one gets along — the two differ in both spelling and meaning.