Word
damn
US/ˈdæm/
UK/dˈæm/
Definitions
01to criticize strongly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to say very clearly that something is bad, wrong, or a failure.
v. to condemn or criticize something or someone severely as being unfit, harmful, or a failure.
“The new movie was damned by critics for its boring story.”
“The report effectively damned the project, citing a complete lack of oversight and several major safety violations.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice: 'to be damned by...'
02to curse
B2 · Upper Intermediate Vulgar
v. to use the word 'damn' to show you are angry at someone or something.
v. to invoke a curse upon someone or something; used as an expression of intense frustration or anger.
“He damned the broken car as he stood in the rain.”
“Frustrated by the repeated delays, she damned the entire bureaucracy for its inefficiency.”
Usage
Usually used as an exclamation or a transitive verb.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03annoying or emphasized
B2 · Upper Intermediate Vulgar · Informal
adj. used to show you are annoyed or to make a point stronger.
adj. used as an intensifier to express annoyance, frustration, or emphasis.
“I can't find my damn keys anywhere.”
“He spent the whole afternoon trying to fix that damn computer before finally giving up in frustration.”
Usage
Always used before a noun.
04very
C1 · Advanced Vulgar · Informal
adv. used to mean 'very' when you want to sound strong or informal.
adv. used as an intensifying adverb meaning 'extremely' or 'very'.
Español:malditamente
“That was a damn good meal.”
“The team played a damn fine game, despite the challenging weather conditions and the loss of their captain.”
Usage
Placed before an adjective.
05a tiny amount of care
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Vulgar · Informal
n. used in negative sentences to say you do not care at all about something.
n. the smallest possible amount of concern or consideration; typically used in negative constructions.
“I don't give a damn what they think of my clothes.”
“He made it quite clear that he didn't give a damn about the social consequences of his decision.”
Usage
Almost always used with 'give' or 'worth'.
Real-World Examples
“He wanted to carry on, but he had that many damn things wrong with him by the end.” “It’s more ‘how do I survive this gym?’ because it's damn hard to keep staying alive at home.” Etymology
From Middle English dampnen, from Old French damner, from Latin damnāre (“to condemn, inflict loss upon”), from damnum (“loss”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
INTERJECTION
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/damn
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0