offend
verb /əˈfend/
/əˈfend/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they offend | /əˈfend/ /əˈfend/ |
| he / she / it offends | /əˈfendz/ /əˈfendz/ |
| past simple offended | /əˈfendɪd/ /əˈfendɪd/ |
| past participle offended | /əˈfendɪd/ /əˈfendɪd/ |
| -ing form offending | /əˈfendɪŋ/ /əˈfendɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, often passive, intransitive] offend (somebody) to make somebody feel upset because of something you say or do that is rude or embarrassing
- They'll be offended if you don't go to their wedding.
- Neil did not mean to offend anybody with his joke.
- She managed to offend her boyfriend’s parents as soon as she opened her mouth.
- A TV interviewer must be careful not to offend.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsb2- He was very sensitive and easily offended.
- Omit anything that is likely to offend people.
- She stopped mid-sentence, anxious not to offend him.
- Some people found his jokes funny but others were deeply offended.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- deeply
- gravely
- greatly
- …
- be likely to
- be anxious not to
- be careful not to
- …
- against
- feel, look, sound, etc. offended
- [transitive] offend somebody/something to seem unpleasant to somebody
- The smell from the farm offended some people.
- an ugly building that offends the eye
- The show was careful not to offend local sensibilities (= hurt the feelings of local people).
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- deeply
- gravely
- greatly
- …
- be likely to
- be anxious not to
- be careful not to
- …
- against
- feel, look, sound, etc. offended
- [intransitive] (formal) to commit a crime or crimes
- He started offending at the age of 16.
- What is the best way to stop someone who has offended from repeating the offence?
- [intransitive] offend (against somebody/something) (formal) to be against what people believe is morally right
- comments that offend against people’s religious beliefs
- Viewers complained that the broadcast offended against good taste.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- deeply
- gravely
- greatly
- …
- be likely to
- be anxious not to
- be careful not to
- …
- against
- feel, look, sound, etc. offended
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French offendre, from Latin offendere ‘strike against’.