peril

UK: /ˈpɛrəl/ US: /ˈpɛrəl/ ,(per′əl)

Inflections of 'peril' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

When both "l" and "ll" forms exist, spellings with a double "l" are correct, but rare, in US English, while those with a single "l" are not correct in UK English.

perils

v 3rd person singular

perilling

v pres p (Mainly UK)

periling

v pres p (US)

perilled

v past (Mainly UK)

periled

v past (US)

perilled

v past p (Mainly UK)

periled

v past p (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•il /ˈpɛrəl/   n. 

1. grave risk;
   danger;
   jeopardy:
   [uncountable] The ship was in great peril.
2. something that causes or may cause injury, loss, or destruction:
   [countable] the perils of a sea voyage.

Idioms

3. at one's peril, with a great chance of meeting danger or causing harm to oneself:
   If you continue with this scheme, you do so at your peril.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•il  (per′əl), n., v., -iled, -il•ing or (esp. Brit.) -illed, -il•ling. 
n. 

1. exposure to injury, loss, or destruction;
   grave risk;
   jeopardy;
   danger:
   They faced the peril of falling rocks.
2. something that causes or may cause injury, loss, or destruction.

v.t. 

3. to expose to danger;
   imperil;
   risk.

• Latin perīculum trial, test, danger, equivalent. to perī-, verb base meaning "try'' (found in the compound experīrī; see experience) + -culum -cle²
• Old French
• Middle English 1175–1225

per′il•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See danger. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

peril / ˈpɛrɪl/ noun

1. exposure to risk or harm; danger or jeopardy

Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin perīculum