damage
Americannoun
-
damages
plural
-
injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness.
The storm did considerable damage to the crops.
- Synonyms:
- loss
-
Law. damages, the estimated money equivalent for detriment or injury sustained.
-
Informal. Often damages. cost; expense; charge.
What are the damages for the lubrication job on my car?
verb (used with object)
-
damages,
present (3rd person singular)
-
damaged,
past participle, past
-
damaging
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
damages,
present (3rd person singular)
-
damaged,
past participle, past
-
damaging
present participle
noun
-
injury or harm impairing the function or condition of a person or thing
-
loss of something desirable
-
informal cost; expense (esp in the phrase what's the damage? )
verb
-
(tr) to cause damage to
-
(intr) to suffer damage
Synonym Usage
Damage, detriment, harm, mischief refer to injuries of various kinds. Damage is the kind of injury or the effect of injury that directly impairs appearance, value, usefulness, soundness, etc.: Fire causes damage to property. Detriment is a falling off from an original condition as the result of damage, depreciation, devaluation, etc.: Overeating is a detriment to health. Harm may denote either physical hurt or mental, moral, or spiritual injury: bodily harm; harm to one's self-confidence. Mischief may be damage, harm, trouble, or misfortune caused by a person, especially if maliciously: an enemy who would do one mischief.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
damageabilitynoun
-
damageablenessnoun
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damagernoun
-
predamagenoun
-
redamageverb (used with object)
-
damageableadjective
-
damagingadjective
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nondamageableadjective
-
quasi-damagedadjective
-
undamageableadjective
-
undamagedadjective
-
damaginglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
damagesimple
-
damagessimple
-
have damagedperfect
-
has damagedperfect
-
am damagingprogressive
-
are damagingprogressive
-
is damagingprogressive
-
have been damagingperfect progressive
-
has been damagingperfect progressive
Past
-
damagedsimple
-
had damagedperfect
-
was damagingprogressive
-
were damagingprogressive
-
had been damagingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of damage
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to dam (from Latin damnum “damage, fine”) + -age -age; see damn
Explanation
When you damage something you hurt it in a way that makes it less valuable or useful. Say you throw a baseball and it flies over your friend's head and cracks your dad's windshield. Congratulations, you've damaged your dad's car. Damage can also be a noun. That crack in the windshield? It doesn't matter whether you 'fess up or blame your friend or a giant falling acorn. It made the car less valuable and harder to drive, therefore it is considered damage. Another meaning of damage implies the damage done to your wallet when you buy something. In a restaurant, you might hear someone ask "What's the damage?" when the check comes to the table.
Vocabulary lists containing damage
"Handle with Care"
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"The Clever Magistrate"
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New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)
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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:
“If departing colleagues receive little support, it can damage morale and make people question their own job security.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
By coordinating insecticide applications with the beetles' reproductive cycles, researchers hope to disrupt larval development before the insects can inflict extensive damage on blueberry roots.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
Just last month, travel on the railway was partially shuttered because of high tides, which came just weeks after a temporary closure in September due to erosion and slope damage following a strong Pacific storm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
While the damage is limited by state lines, their victories will inspire copycats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Jack managed to hold on to the Mirror as he fell, narrowly saving it from further damage by hitting the cracked and broken ground.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
The 20-year-old, who was awarded $6 million damages, said she became hooked on YouTube and Instagram in grade school.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
"Every delay in adaptation funding turns climate impacts into catastrophic losses and damages," Monaheng said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
An appeals court ordered a new trial to determine damages for NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers who sued the league and its partners for allegedly colluding to drive up prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Gayles had already once dismissed the defamation lawsuit, which sought $20 billion in damages.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
He demanded access to the medical records and autopsy reports of Henrietta and Deborah’s sister, Elsie, as well as damages of $i 5,000 per defendant, plus interest.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
The sugary versions of the drinks can also contribute to obesity and damaged teeth, according to the Association of UK Dieticians.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
These enzymes help maintain cellular health by removing damaged DNA building blocks before they can interfere with normal biological processes.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
Chapman said on Tuesday that the force of the impact severely damaged the wreckage.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Although the bureau previously said it serviced more than 5,000 receptacles citywide, Johnson said many automated bins have since been damaged or destroyed, prompting the department to switch to more durable metal slatted bins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
Klava herself was wounded in the leg, and before long, fire began to spread along the wing of their Pe-2 from the damaged engine.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Although it features a seance, “The Unbelievers,” by Nick Payne, is not truly a ghost story but a drama about the debilitating persistence of grief, and the equally damaging persistence of hope.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
"As long as they're not damaging the permanent art and architecture, they can generally do whatever they want," he tells BBC News.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Instead of becoming usable glass, they begin to break down, damaging their structure and producing unwanted impurities.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
Scientists at King's College London have identified a promising new strategy for fighting Alzheimer's disease that could address several of the condition's damaging effects at the same time.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
The Agriculture Department’s mass control program, on the other hand, cost about $3.50 per acre — the most expensive, the most damaging, and the least effective program of all.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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