ruin

verb
UK: /ˈruːɪn/
US: /ˈruːɪn/

  1. To destroy or damage something very badly.

    1. The heavy rain may ruin our picnic plans for today. [ ] [ ]
    2. A single mistake could ruin his chances of winning the competition. [ ] [ ]

  2. To spoil something completely so that it cannot be enjoyed or successful.

    1. Don't ruin the surprise by telling him about the party. [ ] [ ]
    2. The scandal threatened to ruin the company's reputation and future. [ ] [ ]

  3. To cause someone to lose all their money or their position in society.

    1. He lost his job and it could ruin him forever. [ ] [ ]
    2. The stock market crash ruined many investors overnight. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

wreck damage destroy decay spoil
ruin noun

  1. The state of being destroyed or severely damaged.

    1. The old castle is now a complete ruin. [ ] [ ]
    2. The war left the city in complete ruin and desolation. [ ] [ ]

  2. Something that has been destroyed or severely damaged, often a building or structure.

    1. We visited the ancient ruins of Rome last summer. [ ] [ ]
    2. These garden walls are now a picturesque ruin, covered in ivy. [ ] [ ]

  3. The process or state of decay or decline.

    1. His drinking led to his personal and financial ruin. [ ] [ ]
    2. The politician faced ruin after the corruption allegations. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ruin" in English means: To destroy or damage something very badly., To spoil something completely so that it cannot be enjoyed or successful., To cause someone to lose all their money or their position in society..

The phonetic transcription of "ruin" is /ˈruːɪn/ in British English and /ˈruːɪn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ruin": wreck, damage, destroy, decay, spoil.

Example usage of "ruin": "The heavy rain may ruin our picnic plans for today.". More examples on the page.