# damn

/ˈdæm/ (US) · /dˈæm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/damn
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to criticize strongly

verb · CEFR B2

to say very clearly that something is bad, wrong, or a failure.

For teachers: 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...'

### 2. to curse

verb · CEFR B2 · Vulgar

to use the word 'damn' to show you are angry at someone or something.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. annoying or emphasized

adjective · CEFR B2 · Vulgar · Informal

used to show you are annoyed or to make a point stronger.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. very

adverb · CEFR C1 · Vulgar · Informal

used to mean 'very' when you want to sound strong or informal.

For teachers: used as an intensifying adverb meaning 'extremely' or 'very'.

- 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.

### 6. a tiny amount of care

noun · CEFR B2 · Vulgar · Informal

used in negative sentences to say you do not care at all about something.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- I don't give a damn what they think.
- He didn't seem to give a damn about the rules as long as he finished the job on time.
- The protagonist's refusal to give a damn about social expectations makes him a compelling, if occasionally frustrating, figure in modern literature.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.