ruin
/ˈɹuː.ɪn/ verb A2- To cause the fiscal ruin of; to bankrupt or drive out of business. · With all these purchases, you surely mean to ruin us!
- To destroy or render something no longer usable or operable. · He ruined his new white slacks by accidentally spilling oil on them.
- To destroy (e.g. a city) so as to leave ruins.
- To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to have a disastrous effect on something. · My car breaking down just as I was on the road ruined my vacation.
- To make something less enjoyable or likeable. · I used to love that song, but being assaulted when that song was playing ruined the song for me.
- To make (someone) have a ruined orgasm.
- To reveal the ending of (a story); to spoil.
- To seduce or debauch, and thus harm the social standing of. · The young libertine was notorious for ruining local girls.
He/she/it ruins · Past ruined · Past participle ruined · -ing form ruining
Verb forms
- Base form
- ruin
- He/she/it
- ruins
- Past
- ruined
- Past participle
- ruined
- -ing form
- ruining
From the library
You could still trace the stone causeways that led up to the ruined gates where the last splinters of wood hung to the worn, rusted hinges.
There was a ruined summer-house of white marble in the center of the terrace, built for queens dead a hundred years ago.
That same cloud was being watched by two good friends in the ruined ditch below the city wall, for Bagheera and Kaa, knowing well how dangerous the Monkey-People were in large numbers, did not wish to run any risks.
That happened to be the least ruined of any, and the big snake was delayed awhile before he could find a way up the stones.
Other matches
Learn ruin in real texts
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