ruin
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to spoil something so much that it is no longer useful or enjoyable.
v.to damage something irreparably or to diminish its quality to the point of worthlessness.
Simple“The sudden rain ruined our plans for a picnic in the park.”
In context“The scandal threatened to ruin his professional reputation, undoing decades of meticulous networking and public service.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make someone or a company lose all their money.
v.to cause total financial failure or bankruptcy. Transitive use.
Simple“The high cost of the lawsuit almost ruined the small family business.”
In context“Hyperinflation and the collapse of the banking sector effectively ruined thousands of middle-class families overnight.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.the parts of a building that remain after it has been destroyed or has become very old.
n.the remains of a building, city, or structure that has suffered collapse or decay. Often used in the plural.
Simple“We spent the afternoon exploring the ruins of the ancient castle.”
In context“The archaeological team spent months excavating the Roman ruins, uncovering mosaics that had been buried for nearly two millennia.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a state of being destroyed or having lost everything, especially money.
n.the state of being decayed or destroyed; often refers to financial or social collapse.
Simple“The gambler's addiction led his family to financial ruin.”
In context“After the war, the city lay in ruin, with essential infrastructure completely severed and the population displaced.”
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage ruins an overwhelming
“As Selena, an illustrator, put it, a single mean message "would ruin" their week.”
From Middle English ruyne, ruine, from Old French ruine, from Latin ruīna (“overthrow, ruin”), from ruō (“to fall down, tumble, sink in ruin, rush”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.