spoil
Americanverb (used with object)
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spoils,
present (3rd person singular)
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spoiled,
past participle, past
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spoilt,
past participle, past
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spoiling
present participle
-
to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: Drought spoiled the corn crop.
The water stain spoiled the painting.
Drought spoiled the corn crop.
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to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally.
Bad weather spoiled their vacation.
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to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc..
to spoil a child by pampering him.
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Archaic. to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.
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Archaic. to take or seize by force.
verb (used without object)
-
spoils,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spoiled,
past participle, past
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spoilt,
past participle, past
-
spoiling
present participle
-
to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid.
Milk spoils if not refrigerated.
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to plunder, pillage, or rob.
noun
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Often spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
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the act of plundering.
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an object of plundering.
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Usually spoils.
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the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party.
the spoils of office.
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prizes won or treasures accumulated.
a child's spoils brought home from a party.
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waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
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an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.
idioms
verb
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(tr) to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
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(tr) to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
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(intr) (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use
the fruit must be eaten before it spoils
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(intr) sport to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm
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archaic to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
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to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)
noun
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waste material thrown up by an excavation
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any treasure accumulated by a person
this gold ring was part of the spoil
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obsolete
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the act of plundering
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a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder
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Synonym Usage
Spoil, ruin, wreck agree in meaning to reduce the value, quality, usefulness, etc., of anything. Spoil is the general term: to spoil a delicate fabric. Ruin implies doing completely destructive or irreparable injury: to ruin one's health. Wreck implies a violent breaking up or demolition: to wreck oneself with drink; to wreck a building.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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spoilsimple
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spoilssimple
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have spoiledperfect
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have spoiltperfect
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has spoiledperfect
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has spoiltperfect
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am spoilingprogressive
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are spoilingprogressive
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is spoilingprogressive
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have been spoilingperfect progressive
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has been spoilingperfect progressive
Past
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spoiledsimple
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spoiltsimple
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had spoiledperfect
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had spoiltperfect
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was spoilingprogressive
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were spoilingprogressive
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had been spoilingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of spoil
First recorded in 1300–50; (verb) Middle English spoilen, from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre “to despoil,” equivalent to spoli(um) “booty” + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun) derivative of the verb or from Old French espoille, derivative of espoillier
Explanation
When you spoil something, you destroy it or ruin its quality. If you spoil a surprise, you tell the secret you were supposed to keep. When you spoil something, you mess it up, like spoiling someone's good mood by bringing up a painful memory. Food can also spoil, or become unsafe for eating, and you can spoil a child by always giving him everything he wants, making him unable to cope when things don't go his way. The word spoil comes from the Old French espoillier, to plunder. In fact, things taken by force are called spoils, like the spoils of war.
Vocabulary lists containing spoil
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The blackouts disrupt schedules, spoil products and make each workday unpredictable.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
Thank you to those of you who trusted us to not spoil your mornings, coming to iPlayer or the BBC Football YouTube channel every day for our eight-minute highlight packages.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Intermittent power in some areas returns for as little as 45 minutes a day, causing food to spoil in the scorching heat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
It’s too soon to spoil it for him.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
I could have the refrigerator open ten seconds and here she comes talking about, “Close that door before you spoil the food!”
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
It’s been seven years since the series made its American debut, and revealing much of what happens in season 2 spoils the cliff-hangers of season 1.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
He marvels at the latest evidence of the grandchildren’s genius, like any grandfather should, and spoils them with treats and toys.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Ironically, the easiest way to fund his plans would be to draw on the spoils of faster growth.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
While the nation tries to figure it out, Austin is reaping the spoils of its housing overhaul.
From Barron's ● May 31, 2026
“So, for the moment, the Bologna instrument counts as the spoils of war,” Al-Kaisy went on after a pause.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
This has been spoiled elsewhere, but we’ll leave it at they do and they don’t.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
David Matias Rodriguez, an 82-year-old retiree, said he was worried the few things in his refrigerator would be spoiled.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Meanwhile, children watching the match at Castleway Primary in Leasowe, Wirral, were told they would miss playtime for the rest of the week if they spoiled the result for anyone.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
“We’ve been spoiled for too long by peace,” said Norman Heit, global corporate security and resilience director at telecom giant Vodafone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
Jack had been much more interested in learning why bees stung or what part of the month were-rabbits transformed into humans, rather than how to deal with spoiled royals who couldn’t get out of bed.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Cher Horowitz was the lovably spoilt, fashion-obsessed Beverly Hills high school girl we took to our hearts in the 1995 teen film Clueless.
From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2025
There has been growing debate over how to manage what China calls "bear children" - spoilt young kids who kick up a fuss in public spaces such as by screaming or damaging public property.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2024
Some could argue British music lovers are spoilt for choice.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2024
"When I was a child I was very spoilt by my parents. I was oblivious to the outside world," she told the Guardian in 2020.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2024
My afternoon had spoilt me for the hours that still remained, and I thought how long they would seem until my bed-time, how empty too my supper all alone.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
I can just see Lionel Messi spoiling our party.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
On Thursday he may have pushed that contempt for convention a little too far, with Kaan Ayhan goal’s deep in stoppage time giving Turkey a 3-2 win and spoiling the Americans’ unbeaten start.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
HBO has asked journalists to refrain from spoiling specific jokes, revealing certain gags, or mentioning guest stars that haven’t been announced or confirmed in photos.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
Her father tries to make up for the time he has missed by spoiling the children.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Harriett’s parents have well-paying jobs and they love spoiling her.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
