damage
verb/ˈdæmɪdʒ/
/ˈdæmɪdʒ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they damage | /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ |
| he / she / it damages | /ˈdæmɪdʒɪz/ /ˈdæmɪdʒɪz/ |
| past simple damaged | /ˈdæmɪdʒd/ /ˈdæmɪdʒd/ |
| past participle damaged | /ˈdæmɪdʒd/ /ˈdæmɪdʒd/ |
| -ing form damaging | /ˈdæmɪdʒɪŋ/ /ˈdæmɪdʒɪŋ/ |
- damage something/somebody to have a bad or harmful effect on something/somebody
- The church was badly damaged by the 1997 earthquake.
- Smoking seriously damages your health.
- to be severely/heavily damaged in the fire
- Our car was damaged beyond repair in the crash.
- She fears the allegations could permanently damage her reputation.
- She was psychologically damaged by her experiences.
Extra Examples- A number of houses were damaged or destroyed by the fire.
- Injuries were minimal, but some business property was damaged.
- Damp has damaged some of the paintings irreparably.
- The government has the power to fine companies that damage the environment.
- Many feel the organization's credibility has been damaged.
Synonyms damagedamagehurt ▪ harm ▪ impairThese words all mean to have a bad effect on somebody/something.damage to cause physical harm to something, making it less attractive, useful or valuable; to have a bad effect on somebody/something’s life, health, happiness or chances of success:- The fire badly damaged the town hall.
- emotionally damaged children
- Hard work never hurt anyone.
- Pollution can harm marine life.
- Even one drink can impair driving performance.
- to damage/hurt/harm/impair somebody’s chances
- to damage/hurt/harm somebody’s interests/reputation
- to damage/harm/impair somebody’s health
- to seriously/greatly damage/hurt/harm/impair somebody/something
- to badly/severely damage/hurt/impair somebody/something
Collocations InjuriesInjuriesBeing injuredTopics War and conflictb1- have a fall/an injury
- receive/suffer/sustain a serious injury/a hairline fracture/(especially British English) whiplash/a gunshot wound
- hurt/injure your ankle/back/leg
- damage the brain/an ankle ligament/your liver/the optic nerve/the skin
- pull/strain/tear a hamstring/ligament/muscle/tendon
- sprain/twist your ankle/wrist
- break a bone/your collarbone/your leg/three ribs
- fracture/crack your skull
- break/chip/knock out/lose a tooth
- burst/perforate your eardrum
- dislocate your finger/hip/jaw/shoulder
- bruise/cut/graze your arm/knee/shoulder
- burn/scald yourself/your tongue
- bang/bump/hit/ (informal) bash your elbow/head/knee (on/against something)
- treat somebody for burns/a head injury/a stab wound
- examine/clean/dress/bandage/treat a bullet wound
- repair a damaged/torn ligament/tendon/cartilage
- amputate/cut off an arm/a finger/a foot/a leg/a limb
- put on/ (formal) apply/take off (especially North American English) a Band-Aid™/(British English) a plaster/a bandage
- need/require/put in/ (especially British English) have (out)/ (North American English) get (out) stitches
- put on/rub on/ (formal) apply cream/ointment/lotion
- have/receive/undergo (British English) physiotherapy/(North American English) physical therapy
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- badly
- heavily
- seriously
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, from dam, damne ‘loss or damage’, from Latin damnum ‘loss or hurt’; compare with damn.
Check pronunciation:
damage