ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spoil

v. · n.
US //ˈspɔɪɫ// UK //spˈɔɪl// spoil
Irregular verb past spoiled / spoilt past participle spoiled / spoilt
  1. 1 to ruin or damage (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to ruin something or make it less enjoyable.

    to impair the quality or value of something; to render something undesirable or unusable.

    Example

    The sudden rain shower started to spoil our picnic in the park.

    Example

    The construction of the high-rise apartment block threatened to spoil the historic character of the waterfront district.
  2. 2 to overindulge someone (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to give someone, especially a child, everything they want in a way that harms their character.

    to harm the character of a person, typically a child, by excessive indulgence or lack of discipline.

    Example

    The grandparents tend to spoil the children with too many sweets and toys.

    Example

    Psychologists argue that parents who spoil their children by shielding them from every disappointment may hinder their emotional development.
Show 6 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 food going bad (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to decay or become unfit to eat.

    to undergo a process of decay or chemical change that makes food unpalatable or unsafe.

    Example

    The milk will spoil if you leave it out on the counter all night.

    Example

    Without proper refrigeration, the entire shipment of fresh produce began to spoil within forty-eight hours of arrival.
  2. 4 to reveal a plot (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to tell someone the ending of a movie or book before they have seen it.

    to prematurely disclose significant plot points or the conclusion of a narrative, thereby diminishing the experience for others.

    Example

    Please don't spoil the movie for me; I haven't seen the ending yet.

    Example

    Social media users were warned not to spoil the series finale for those living in different time zones.
  3. 5 aviation (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    to reduce the lift of an airplane wing using a special part called a spoiler.

    to intentionally reduce the lift generated by a wing by deflecting air upwards, typically during descent or landing.

    Example

    The pilot used the flaps to spoil the lift and slow the plane down.

    Example

    By deploying the flight spoilers, the pilot was able to increase the rate of descent without significantly increasing the aircraft's airspeed.

  4. 6 eager for something (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    to be very eager or impatient for something to happen.

    to be extremely eager or impatient, typically used in the progressive form 'spoiling for'.

    Example

    After weeks of training, the young boxer was spoiling for a fight.

    Example

    The opposition party had been spoiling for a debate on the new tax laws for several months.

    Usage

    Usually appears in the phrase 'spoiling for a fight' or 'spoiling for a chance'.
  5. 7 stolen goods (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary Formal

    goods or money taken by a winner after a war or a crime.

    goods, property, or territory seized by a victor in a conflict or through illegal means.

    Example

    The soldiers divided the spoils of war among themselves after the battle.

    Example

    The victors claimed the mineral rights of the occupied territory as part of the spoils of the campaign.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural form 'spoils'.
  6. 8 excavated waste (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the earth and rocks that are dug up during building or mining.

    waste material, such as earth or rock, produced during excavation, mining, or dredging operations.

    Example

    The construction crew moved the spoil to a different part of the site.

    Example

    Environmental regulations required the mining company to contain the spoil in a way that prevented heavy metals from leaching into the groundwater.
Origin

From Middle English spoilen, spuylen, borrowed from Old French espoillier, espollier, espuler, from Latin spoliāre (“pillage, ruin, spoil”).

Word family
Idioms4 entries

© 2026 English Reference