English Meaning & Definitions
Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something; injury or destruction.
- “The recent storm caused extensive damage to the coastal properties.”
- “The car sustained significant damage in the collision.”
Loss or harm resulting from injury to person, property, or reputation (often used in the plural 'damages' in a legal context to refer to monetary compensation).
- “The company had to pay substantial damages for breach of contract.”
- “The scandal did irreparable damage to his political career.”
To inflict physical harm on something so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function; to injure or spoil.
- “Smoking can seriously damage your health over time.”
- “Be careful not to damage the delicate antique vase.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “damage”.
Late 13th century, from Old French *damage* 'loss, harm, injury', from Latin *damnum* 'loss, hurt, injury, fine'. The legal sense of 'compensation for loss or injury' (often in plural 'damages') emerged in the 14th century.
Imagine a 'dam' that 'ages' and starts to crack, causing 'damage' to the structure and the surrounding area.
Frequently Asked Questions About “damage”
1. What is the meaning of “damage” in English?
In English, damage (noun) is defined as: “Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something; injury or destruction.”.
2. How do you use “damage” in a sentence?
“The recent storm caused extensive damage to the coastal properties.”
3. What are English synonyms of “damage”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “damage”?
Late 13th century, from Old French *damage* 'loss, harm, injury', from Latin *damnum* 'loss, hurt, injury, fine'. The legal sense of 'compensation for loss or injury' (often in plural 'damages') emerged in the 14th century.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.