# murder

/ˈmɝdɝ/ (US) · /mˈɜːdɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the crime of killing

noun · CEFR B1

the crime of intentionally killing a person.

For teachers: the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. Uncountable in its abstract legal sense, though countable when referring to specific instances.

- The police are investigating a murder that happened in the park last night.
- The prosecution struggled to prove premeditation, which is a necessary element for a first-degree murder conviction in this jurisdiction.

### 2. something very difficult

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

something that is very unpleasant or difficult to deal with.

For teachers: an experience or task that is extremely arduous, painful, or difficult to endure.

- Walking up those stairs with heavy bags was absolute murder on my knees.
- Commuting for three hours every day in this heat is absolute murder, and I am seriously considering moving closer to the office.

### 3. a group of crows

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the special name for a group of crows.

For teachers: the collective noun for a group of crows.

- A murder of crows gathered in the old oak tree at sunset.
- The poet used the image of a murder of crows circling the battlefield to create a sense of impending doom.

### 4. to kill someone

verb · CEFR B1

to kill someone deliberately and illegally.

For teachers: to commit the crime of murder; to kill a human being with malice aforethought.

- He was sent to prison for life after he tried to murder the witness.
- The historical record suggests the king was murdered by his own guards, though no official charges were ever brought.

### 5. to perform badly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to perform a song or a piece of writing very badly.

For teachers: to spoil or ruin something, such as a piece of music or a language, through poor performance or pronunciation.

- I like singing, but I usually murder the high notes in that song.
- The amateur dramatic society absolutely murdered the Shakespearean dialogue, much to the disappointment of the local critics.

### 6. to want or eat greedily

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to really want to eat or drink something right now.

For teachers: to consume something with great enthusiasm or to have a strong desire for something. Often used with 'could'.

- I am so thirsty I could murder a cold glass of water.
- After a long day of hiking in the rain, the entire group felt they could murder a hot meal and a warm bed.

## Examples

- The police are investigating the murder.
- He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
- The detective pieced together the evidence, revealing a complex motive for the murder that went far beyond simple greed.

---

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.