Word
harm
US/ˈhɑɹm/
UK/hˈɑːm/
Definitions
01injury or damage
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. physical or emotional injury, or damage to something.
n. physical, emotional, or material injury or damage. Often used uncountably in general contexts.
“The storm caused a lot of harm to the local crops.”
“The legal team argued that the defendant's actions caused significant financial harm to the small business owners in the district.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrases 'do harm' or 'come to harm'.
02bad effect
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a bad result or a negative effect on a situation.
n. detriment or misfortune resulting from a specific action or policy.
“There is no harm in asking for a second opinion.”
“While the policy was well-intentioned, the long-term harm to the ecosystem was only discovered years later.”
Usage
Often appears in the idiomatic construction 'there is no harm in doing something'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to hurt or damage
B1 · Intermediate
v. to hurt someone or to damage something.
v. to cause physical, emotional, or material injury to a person, animal, or object. Transitive verb requiring a direct object.
“Pollution can harm the fish living in the river.”
“The report concluded that the new chemicals would not harm the environment if used according to the safety guidelines.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “harm” in context.
Verb
01. cause serious harm
“The chemical spill could cause serious harm to the local ecosystem.”
verb + adj + noun
02. do more harm
“Sometimes, interfering in a situation can do more harm than good.”
verb + adj + noun
03. prevent further harm
“The police arrived quickly to prevent further harm to the bystanders.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. irreparable harm
“The scandal caused irreparable harm to the politician's reputation.”
adj + noun
05. potential harm
“Doctors must warn patients about the potential harm of new medications.”
adj + noun
Preposition
06. in harm's way
“Rescue workers often put themselves in harm's way to save others.”
prep + noun
07. out of harm's way
“The parents moved the fragile vases to keep them out of harm's way.”
prep + noun
08. harm caused
09. harm our children
10. harming themselves
Real-World Examples
“Hot weather during the summer can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious harm.” “Amy Elwood, from Trebanog, said: "It's a bit silly to be honest, Mark is not harming anybody.” “Our high streets should work for local people – not for companies profiting from harm.” Related words
Idioms
01. no harm, no foul
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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