Word
devastate
Phoneticsdev·as·tate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɛvəˌsteɪt/
UK/dˈɛvəstˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to destroy a place
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to destroy or ruin a large area or a lot of buildings.
v. to lay waste to a large area or to cause extensive physical destruction to infrastructure or natural environments.
日本語:壊滅する※
Español:devastar
“The hurricane moved inland and devastated several small towns along the coast.”
“The forest fire devastated thousands of hectares of ancient woodland, leaving the local ecosystem in a state of total collapse.”
02to cause extreme sadness
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone feel very shocked, upset, or sad.
v. to overwhelm someone with grief, shock, or dismay. Often used in the passive voice to describe a person's emotional state.
“She was devastated by the news that she didn't get the job.”
“The family was utterly devastated by the sudden loss, struggling to process the news in the weeks that followed.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “devastate” in context.
Verb
01. devastate the local economy
“The closure of the steel mill will likely devastate the local economy for years to come.”
verb + adj + noun
02. threaten to devastate the ecosystem
“Environmentalists warn that the proposed dam could threaten to devastate the fragile ecosystem.”
verb + infinitive
Adjective
03. devastated by the loss
“The entire community was devastated by the loss of their historic library in the fire.”
adj + prep
04. devastated to learn
“The staff were devastated to learn that the company would be closing its doors for good.”
adj + infinitive
Adverb
05. be absolutely devastated by the news
“She was absolutely devastated by the news of her father's sudden passing.”
adv + adj
06. financially devastate the family
“The legal fees were so high that they threatened to financially devastate the family.”
adv + verb
07. utterly devastate the region
“The category five hurricane managed to utterly devastate the coastal region within hours.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is often used in the passive form ('to be devastated') when describing a person's emotional reaction to bad news.
Real-World Examples
“In the 17th-century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, disease, famine and other misfortunes could devastate communities, and the dead became convenient scapegoats for shifting blame.” “His decision to allow exploratory drilling in the area known as the Brazilian Equatorial Margin was heavily criticised by environmentalists, who raised concerns that any potential oil spills could devastate its ecosystem.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dēvastātus, perfect passive participle of dēvastō (“to lay waste, devastate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)); from dē- (augmentative prefix) + vastō (“to destroy, lay waste”). See vast. First attested in 1638.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/devastate
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0