Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense ruins, present participle ruining, past tense, past participle ruined
1. verb
To ruin something means to severely harm, damage, or spoil it.
Olivia was ruining her health through worry. [VERB noun]
Entire villages have been washed away. Roads and bridges have been destroyed andcrops ruined. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: destroy, devastate, wreck, trash [slang] More Synonyms of ruin
2. verb
To ruin someone means to cause them to no longer have any money.
She accused him of ruining her financially with his taste for the high life. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bankrupt, break, cripple, impoverish More Synonyms of ruin
3. uncountable noun
Ruin is the state of no longer having any money.
The farmers say recent inflation has driven them to the brink of ruin.
Synonyms: bankruptcy, poverty, insolvency, penury More Synonyms of ruin
4. uncountable noun
Ruin is the state of being severely damaged or spoiled, or the process of reaching this state.
The vineyards were falling into ruin.
She wasn't going to let her plans go to ruin.
Synonyms: disrepair, decay, disintegration, ruination More Synonyms of ruin
5. plural noun
The ruins of something are the parts of it that remain after it has been severely damaged or weakened.
The new republic he helped to build emerged from the ruins of a great empire. [+ of]
He stood very still, staring in at the ruins of his work.
6. countable noun [usually plural]
Theruins of a building are the parts of it that remain after the rest has fallen down or been destroyed.
One dead child was found in the ruins almost two hours after the explosion.
There's only the mountain in this direction, and higher up an old ruin, an abandonedcastle.
7. See also ruined
8.
See in ruins
9.
See in ruins
More Synonyms of ruin
ruin in British English
(ˈruːɪn)
noun
1.
a destroyed or decayed building or town
2.
the state or condition of being destroyed or decayed
3.
loss of wealth, position, etc, or something that causes such loss; downfall
4.
something that is severely damaged
his life was a ruin
5.
a person who has suffered a downfall, bankruptcy, etc
6.
loss of value or usefulness
7. archaic
loss of her virginity by a woman outside marriage
verb
8. (transitive)
to bring to ruin; destroy
9. (transitive)
to injure or spoil
the town has been ruined with tower blocks
10. (intransitive) archaic or poetic
to fall into ruins; collapse
Derived forms
ruinable (ˈruinable)
adjective
ruiner (ˈruiner)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French ruine, from Latin ruīna a falling down, from ruere to fall violently
ruin in American English
(ˈruən)
noun
1. Archaic
a falling down, as of a building, wall, etc.
2. [pl.]
the remains of a fallen building, city, etc., or of something devastated, decayed, etc.
3.
a.
a destroyed or dilapidated building, town, etc.
b.
a person regarded as being physically, mentally, or morally a wreck of what he or she was
4.
the state of being destroyed, decayed, dilapidated, etc.
5.
downfall, destruction, devastation, etc.
; specif.,
a.
complete loss of means, solvency, position, etc.
b.
moral downfall
c.
loss of chastity in a woman
6.
any cause of a person's downfall, destruction, etc.
gambling was his ruin
verb transitive
7.
to bring or reduce to ruin
; specif.,
a.
to destroy, spoil, or damage irreparably
b.
to impoverish or make bankrupt
c.
to deprive (a woman) of chastity
verb intransitive
8.
to go or come to ruin
SYNONYMY NOTE: ruin implies a state of decay, disintegration, etc. especially through such natural processesas age and weather [the barn is in a state of ruin]; destruction implies annihilation or demolition, as by fire, explosion, flood, etc. [the destruction of the village in an air raid]; havoc suggests total destruction or devastation, as following an earthquake or hurricane;, dilapidation implies a state of ruin or shabbiness resulting from neglect [the dilapidation of a deserted house]
Derived forms
ruiner (ˈruiner)
noun
Word origin
ME ruine < OFr < L ruina < ruere, to fall, hurl to the ground < IE *ereu- < base *er-, to set in motion, erect > run, rise
More idioms containing
ruin
rack and ruin
Examples of 'ruin' in a sentence
ruin
This digital world is running the very great risk of ruining our family life.
The Sun (2017)
My agent told me it would ruin my film career.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He recovered but could not shake off the belief that his life was in ruins.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It would assuredly bring to them ruin by depriving them of employment, thus making them beggars.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But don't let one day ruin your marriage.
The Sun (2016)
Cloudy skies don't always ruin a holiday.
The Sun (2016)
I am worried our marriage is ruined.
The Sun (2016)
Was her career in ruins?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A Millions of us face flight delays that risk ruining our holidays.
The Sun (2017)
Not in defence of the protesting Ladies in White or the dissidents sentenced to long jail terms under conditions that ruined their health.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Large sections of the town are in ruins after the battles.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Its insurers agreed to cover the trading loss and the ruined garments in full.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was such a relief because it had been ruining her life.
The Sun (2012)
This is the sort of record that ruins foreign holidays.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They nest deep in the old castle ruins.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You lied to her mother and said these false rumours were ruining your career.
The Sun (2013)
You almost just ruined my whole life.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The episodes were completely ruined due to the amount of scenes that were cut.
The Sun (2011)
She thought we would be financially ruined.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
No generation has so risked financial ruin or ill health in pursuit of fashion.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But it had ruins to build on.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You could be left with a marriage in ruins and a son to bring up alone.
The Sun (2015)
He is still ruining my life because it is as raw now as it was years ago.
The Sun (2014)
This enormous ruined castle is one such.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He said that the loss had ruined his life.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Is it unreasonable to feel my entire life has been ruined?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The action is set to ruin thousands of holidays many families have saved for years to afford.
The Sun (2010)
Going to law has become so expensive that many can face ruin if they bring or defend a claim.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Mass tourism is ruining the city as millions come to see the beauty that rich families built up over the centuries.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He also says he keeps mum about having found a boyfriend so as not to ruin his jokes about being single.
The Sun (2011)
Facilities were more basic at the town 's ruined castle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The towers were in ruins.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
In other languages
ruin
British English: ruin /ˈruːɪn/ NOUN
Ruin is the state of no longer having any money.
The farmers say recent inflation has driven them to the brink of ruin.
American English: ruin
Arabic: إفْلاس
Brazilian Portuguese: ruína
Chinese: 破产
Croatian: ruševina
Czech: zkáza
Danish: ruin
Dutch: ondergang
European Spanish: ruina
Finnish: vararikko
French: ruine
German: Ruine
Greek: ερείπιο
Italian: rovina
Japanese: 荒廃
Korean: 파산
Norwegian: ruin
Polish: ruina
European Portuguese: ruína
Romanian: ruinare
Russian: крах
Latin American Spanish: ruina
Swedish: ruin
Thai: การล้มละลาย
Turkish: iflas
Ukrainian: руйнування
Vietnamese: phá sản
British English: ruin /ˈruːɪn/ VERB
To ruin something means to severely harm, damage, or spoil it.
My wife is ruining her health through worry.
American English: ruin
Arabic: يُدَمِّرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: arruinar
Chinese: 毁灭
Croatian: uništiti
Czech: zkazit
Danish: ruinere
Dutch: ruïneren
European Spanish: arruinar
Finnish: tuhota
French: ruiner
German: zerstören
Greek: καταστρέφω
Italian: rovinare
Japanese: 荒廃させる
Korean: 파괴하다
Norwegian: ruinere
Polish: zrujnować
European Portuguese: arruinar
Romanian: a distruge
Russian: разрушать
Latin American Spanish: arruinar
Swedish: förstöra
Thai: ทำให้พินาศ
Turkish: mahvetmek
Ukrainian: псувати
Vietnamese: tàn phá
All related terms of 'ruin'
ruin a life
Someone's life is the period of time during which they are alive .
rack and ruin
something that is going to rack and ruin is falling into a very bad condition, because nobody is looking after it or dealing properly with it
ruin a career
A career is the job or profession that someone does for a long period of their life.
ruin a reputation
Something's or someone's reputation is the opinion that people have about how good they are. If they have a good reputation, people think they are good.
go to rack and ruin
If you say that a place is going to rack and ruin , you are emphasizing that it is slowly becoming less attractive or less pleasant because no-one is bothering to look after it.
Chinese translation of 'ruin'
ruin
(ˈruːɪn)
n
(u) (= destruction)
[of building]毁(毀)坏(壞) (huǐhuài)
[of hopes, plans etc]破灭(滅) (pòmiè)
(u) (= downfall)[of person]落泊 (luòbó)
(u) (= bankruptcy) 破产(產) (pòchǎn)
(c) (= old building) 废(廢)墟 (fèixū)
vt
(= spoil)[clothes, carpet]毁(毀)坏(壞) (huǐhuài)
[plans, prospects]葬送 (zàngsòng)
[eyesight, health]损(損)害 (sǔnhài)
(= bankrupt)[person]使破产(產) (shǐ pòchǎn)
to be in ruins[building, town]破败(敗)不堪 (pòbài bùkān) [life, plans]严(嚴)重受损(損) (yánzhòng shòusǔn)
Derived Forms
ruinsn pl[of building, castle]废(廢)墟 (fèixū)
1 (verb)
Definition
to destroy or spoil completely
Roads have been destroyed and crops ruined.
Synonyms
destroy
The building was completely destroyed.
devastate
A fire devastated large parts of the castle.
wreck
Vandals wrecked the garden.
trash (slang)
Would they trash the place when the party was over?
break
He fell through the window, breaking the glass.
total (slang)
I broke my collar bone and totalled the bike.
defeat
He swore to defeat the plan.
smash
The authorities were trying to smash a smuggling ring.
crush
overwhelm
One massive assault would overwhelm the weakened enemy.
shatter
Something like that really shatters your confidence.
overturn
He accused his opponents of wanting to overturn the government.
overthrow
bring down
demolish
The building is being demolished to make way for a motorway.
raze
Dozens of villages have been razed.
lay waste
lay in ruins
wreak havoc upon
bring to ruin
bring to nothing
kennet (Australian, slang)
jeff (Australian, slang)
Opposites
keep
,
build
,
create
,
save
,
preserve
, construct
2 (verb)
Definition
to cause (someone) to lose money
She accused him of ruining her financially.
Synonyms
bankrupt
The move to the market nearly bankrupted the firm and its director.
break
The newspapers can make or break you.
cripple
A total cut-off of supplies would cripple the country's economy.
impoverish
a society impoverished by wartime inflation
beggar
make bankrupt
reduce to penury
pauperize
cause to go bankrupt
3 (verb)
Definition
to destroy or spoil completely
The original decor was all ruined during renovation.
Synonyms
spoil
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
damage
The strong winds damaged the fence.
mar
The scar didn't mar his self-confidence, he rather liked it.
mess up
blow (slang)
Oh you fool! Now you've really blown your chances!
injure
Too much stress can injure your health.
undo
Our hopes of a victory were undone by an error from the goalkeeper.
screw up (informal)
botch
It's a silly idea, and he has botched it.
mangle
There is almost no phrase so simple that he cannot mangle it.
cock up (British, slang)
disfigure
fuck up (offensive, taboo, slang)
make a mess of
bodge (informal)
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
Opposites
support
,
improve
,
restore
,
repair
,
strengthen
,
enhance
,
enrich
,
mend
1 (noun)
Definition
loss of wealth or position
Recent inflation has driven them to the brink of ruin.
Synonyms
bankruptcy
Many established firms were facing bankruptcy.
poverty
Many people in the region still live in absolute poverty.
insolvency
Seven of the eight companies are on the brink of insolvency.
penury
He was brought up in penury, without education.
impoverishment
destitution
attempts made to relieve destitution
financial failure
2 (noun)
Definition
the state of being destroyed or decayed
The vineyards were falling into ruin.
Synonyms
disrepair
The house was in a bad state of disrepair.
decay
Plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease.
disintegration
ruination
decrepitude
The buildings had been allowed to fall into decrepitude.
dilapidation
wreckage
Mark was dragged from the burning wreckage of his car.
3 (noun)
Definition
the state of being destroyed or decayed
It is the ruin of society.
Synonyms
destruction
the extensive destruction caused by the rioters
fall
the fall of Rome
the end
breakdown
the irretrievable breakdown of his marriage
damage
There have been many reports of minor damage to buildings.
defeat
The vote was seen as something of a defeat for the lobbyists.
failure
The policy is doomed to failure.
crash
He predicted correctly that there was going to be a stock market crash.
collapse
Their economy is teetering on the edge of collapse.
wreck
a broken man contemplating the wreck of his life
overthrow
They were charged with plotting the overthrow of the state.
undoing
havoc
Rioters caused havoc in the centre of the town.
Waterloo
downfall
His lack of experience led to his downfall.
devastation
A huge bomb blast brought devastation to the centre of the city.
dissolution
subversion
nemesis
crackup (informal)
Opposites
success
,
victory
,
triumph
,
creation
,
preservation
(plural noun)
the burnt-out ruins of houses
Synonyms
wreckage
wreck
remainder
debris
rubble
remnants
detritus
phrase
See in ruins
related words
related phobiaatephobia
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blow
Definition
to use (an opportunity) ineffectively
Oh you fool! Now you've really blown your chances!
Synonyms
ruin,
spoil,
screw up (informal),
botch,
mess up,
cock up (British, slang),
fuck up (offensive, taboo, slang),
make a mess of,
muff,
foul up,
make a nonsense of (informal),
bodge (informal),
make a pig's ear of (informal),
flub (US, slang),
crool or cruel (Australian, slang),
louse up (slang)
in the sense of botch
Definition
to spoil through clumsiness or ineptitude
It's a silly idea, and he has botched it.
Synonyms
spoil,
mar,
bungle,
fumble,
screw up (informal),
mess up,
cock up (British, slang),
balls up (taboo, slang),
fuck up (offensive, taboo, slang),
mismanage,
muff,
make a nonsense of (informal),
bodge (informal),
make a pig's ear of (informal),
flub (US, slang),
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of break
Definition
the dawn
He fell through the window, breaking the glass.
Synonyms
shatter,
separate,
destroy,
split,
divide,
crack,
snap,
smash,
crush,
fragment,
demolish,
sever,
trash (slang),
disintegrate,
splinter,
smash to smithereens,
shiver (archaic, literary)
Synonyms of 'ruin'
ruin
Explore 'ruin' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of break
Definition
to reduce to poverty or the state of bankruptcy
The newspapers can make or break you.
Synonyms
ruin,
destroy,
crush,
humiliate,
bring down,
bankrupt,
degrade,
impoverish,
demote,
make bankrupt,
bring to ruin
in the sense of breakdown
Definition
an act or instance of breaking down
the irretrievable breakdown of his marriage
Synonyms
failure,
collapse,
foundering,
downfall,
disintegration,
lack of success
in the sense of collapse
Definition
a sudden failure or breakdown
Their economy is teetering on the edge of collapse.
Synonyms
failure,
slump,
breakdown,
flop (informal),
downfall
in the sense of crash
Definition
the sudden collapse of a business or stock exchange
He predicted correctly that there was going to be a stock market crash.
Synonyms
collapse,
failure,
depression,
ruin,
bankruptcy,
downfall
in the sense of cripple
Definition
to damage (something)
A total cut-off of supplies would cripple the country's economy.
Synonyms
damage,
destroy,
ruin,
bring to a standstill,
halt,
spoil,
cramp,
impair,
put paid to,
vitiate,
put out of action
in the sense of damage
Definition
to harm or injure
The strong winds damaged the fence.
Synonyms
spoil,
hurt,
injure,
smash,
harm,
ruin,
crush,
devastate,
mar,
wreck,
shatter,
weaken,
gut,
demolish,
undo,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
impair,
ravage,
mutilate,
annihilate,
incapacitate,
raze,
deface,
play (merry) hell with (informal)
in the sense of damage
Definition
injury or harm caused to a person or thing
There have been many reports of minor damage to buildings.
Synonyms
destruction,
harm,
loss,
injury,
suffering,
hurt,
ruin,
crushing,
wrecking,
shattering,
devastation,
detriment,
mutilation,
impairment,
annihilation,
ruination
in the sense of decay
Definition
the process of something rotting
Plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease.
Synonyms
rot,
rotting,
deterioration,
corruption,
mould,
blight,
perishing,
disintegration,
corrosion,
decomposition,
gangrene,
mortification,
canker,
caries,
putrefaction,
putrescence,
cariosity,
putridity
in the sense of decrepitude
The buildings had been allowed to fall into decrepitude.
Synonyms
decay,
deterioration,
degeneration,
dilapidation
in the sense of defeat
Definition
to thwart or frustrate
He swore to defeat the plan.
Synonyms
overthrow,
destroy,
ruin,
upset,
overturn,
demolish,
put an end to,
subvert,
put paid to,
bring to ruin
Additional synonyms
in the sense of defeat
Definition
the act of defeating or state of being defeated
The vote was seen as something of a defeat for the lobbyists.
Synonyms
conquest,
beating,
overthrow,
pasting (slang),
rout,
debacle,
trouncing,
repulse,
vanquishment
in the sense of demolish
Definition
to tear down or break up (buildings)
The building is being demolished to make way for a motorway.
Synonyms
knock down,
level,
destroy,
ruin,
overthrow,
dismantle,
flatten,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
tear down,
bulldoze,
raze,
pulverize
in the sense of destitution
attempts made to relieve destitution
Synonyms
pennilessness,
want,
distress,
dire straits,
privation (formal),
penury,
neediness,
beggary,
indigence,
pauperism,
impecuniousness,
utter poverty
in the sense of devastate
Definition
to damage (a place) severely or destroy it
A fire devastated large parts of the castle.
Synonyms
destroy,
waste,
ruin,
sack,
wreck,
spoil,
demolish,
trash (slang),
level,
total (slang),
ravage,
plunder,
desolate,
pillage,
raze,
lay waste,
despoil (formal)
in the sense of devastation
A huge bomb blast brought devastation to the centre of the city.
Synonyms
destruction,
ruin,
havoc,
ravages,
demolition,
plunder,
pillage,
desolation,
depredation,
ruination,
spoliation
in the sense of downfall
Definition
a sudden loss of position or reputation
His lack of experience led to his downfall.
Synonyms
ruin,
fall,
destruction,
collapse,
breakdown,
disgrace,
overthrow,
descent,
undoing,
comeuppance (slang),
comedown
in the sense of failure
Definition
the act or an instance of failing
The policy is doomed to failure.
Synonyms
lack of success,
defeat,
collapse,
abortion,
wreck,
frustration,
breakdown,
overthrow,
miscarriage,
fiasco,
downfall
in the sense of fall
Definition
a capture or overthrow
the fall of Rome
Synonyms
collapse,
defeat,
surrender,
downfall,
death,
failure,
ruin,
resignation,
destruction,
overthrow,
submission,
capitulation
in the sense of havoc
Rioters caused havoc in the centre of the town.
Synonyms
devastation,
damage,
destruction,
waste,
ruin,
wreck,
slaughter,
ravages,
carnage,
desolation,
rack and ruin,
despoliation (formal)
in the sense of impoverish
Definition
to make (someone) poor
a society impoverished by wartime inflation
Synonyms
bankrupt,
ruin,
beggar,
break,
pauperize (old-fashioned)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of injure
Definition
to damage
Too much stress can injure your health.
Synonyms
damage,
harm,
ruin,
wreck,
weaken,
spoil,
impair,
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of insolvency
Seven of the eight companies are on the brink of insolvency.
Synonyms
bankruptcy,
failure,
ruin,
liquidation
in the sense of mangle
Definition
to spoil
There is almost no phrase so simple that he cannot mangle it.
Synonyms
ruin,
murder (informal),
mar,
spoil,
bungle,
screw up (informal),
mess up,
make a hash of (informal)
in the sense of mar
Definition
to spoil or be the one bad feature of
The scar didn't mar his self-confidence, he rather liked it.
Synonyms
ruin,
injure,
spoil,
scar,
flaw,
impair,
mutilate,
detract from,
maim,
deform,
blemish,
mangle,
disfigure,
deface
in the sense of overthrow
Definition
downfall or destruction
They were charged with plotting the overthrow of the state.
Synonyms
downfall,
end,
fall,
defeat,
collapse,
ruin,
destruction,
breakdown,
ousting,
undoing,
rout,
suppression,
displacement,
subversion,
deposition,
unseating,
subjugation,
dispossession,
disestablishment,
dethronement
in the sense of overturn
Definition
to overthrow or destroy (a government)
He accused his opponents of wanting to overturn the government.
Synonyms
overthrow,
defeat,
destroy,
overcome,
crush,
bring down,
oust,
topple,
do away with,
depose,
unseat,
dethrone
in the sense of overwhelm
Definition
to overcome (people) with irresistible force
One massive assault would overwhelm the weakened enemy.
Synonyms
destroy,
beat,
defeat,
overcome,
smash,
crush,
massacre,
conquer,
wipe out,
overthrow,
knock out,
lick (informal),
subdue,
rout,
eradicate,
overpower,
quell,
annihilate,
put paid to,
vanquish (literary),
subjugate,
immobilize,
make mincemeat of (informal),
cut to pieces
in the sense of penury
Definition
extreme poverty
He was brought up in penury, without education.
Synonyms
poverty,
want,
need,
privation (formal),
destitution,
straitened circumstances,
beggary,
indigence,
pauperism
in the sense of poverty
Definition
the state of lacking adequate food or money
Many people in the region still live in absolute poverty.
Synonyms
pennilessness,
want,
need,
distress,
necessity,
hardship,
insolvency,
privation (formal),
penury,
destitution,
hand-to-mouth existence,
beggary,
indigence,
pauperism,
necessitousness
in the sense of raze
Definition
to destroy (buildings or a town) completely
Dozens of villages have been razed.
Synonyms
destroy,
level,
remove,
ruin,
demolish,
flatten,
knock down,
pull down,
tear down,
throw down,
bulldoze,
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of shatter
Definition
to damage badly or destroy
Something like that really shatters your confidence.
Synonyms
destroy,
ruin,
wreck,
blast,
disable,
overturn,
demolish,
impair,
blight,
torpedo,
bring to nought
in the sense of smash
Definition
to defeat or destroy
The authorities were trying to smash a smuggling ring.
Synonyms
destroy,
ruin,
wreck,
total (slang),
defeat,
overthrow,
trash (slang),
lay waste
in the sense of total
I broke my collar bone and totalled the bike.
Synonyms
wreck,
crash,
destroy,
smash,
write off (British),
demolish,
prang (British, informal),
damage beyond repair,
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of trash
Definition
to attack or destroy maliciously
Would they trash the place when the party was over?
Synonyms
wreck,
damage,
destroy,
ruin,
mar,
spoil,
deface,
vandalize,
total (informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of undo
Definition
to cause the downfall of
Our hopes of a victory were undone by an error from the goalkeeper.