Damascus

American  

[duh-mas-kuhs] / dəˈmæs kəs /

noun

1. a city in and the capital of Syria, in the SW part: reputed to be the oldest continuously existing city in the world.

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Damascus British  

/ -ˈmæs-, dəˈmɑːskəs /

noun

1. Arabic names: Dimashq.   Esh Sham.  the capital of Syria, in the southwest: reputedly the oldest city in the world, having been inhabited continuously since before 2000 _bc Pop: 2 317 000 (2005 est)

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Damascus ¹ Cultural  

1. An ancient city in Syria (and still its capital today). The Apostle Paul, then an official called Saul, was on his way from Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem) to Damascus to arrest Christians (see also Christian). He underwent a dramatic conversion on the road, in which he fell from his horse, saw a dazzling light, and “heard a voice saying unto him, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? … I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.’”

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Damascus ² Cultural  

1. Capital of Syria and largest city in the country, located in southwestern Syria; the country's administrative, financial, and communications center.

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Discover More

The “road to Damascus” is an image for a sudden turning point in a person's life.

Inhabited since prehistoric times, Damascus is widely regarded as the world's oldest city.

Example Sentences

The 2008 elimination of Imad Mughniyeh, a Hezbollah terrorist, in Damascus, Syria, might have been a moment of tactical synergy between the CIA and the Mossad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

It is alleged that in his role, the man led a group tasked with quelling demonstrations in the suburbs of Damascus.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

When he fled Syria, Alarnab thought going back to Damascus was forever off the table.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

As a college student in Damascus, Mrie stumbled into her first democratic protest more out of curiosity than conviction.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

The carving on the steel had the pearly gleam of a Damascus blade, while the stock flowed into lock and lock into barrels as though they had grown that way from a magic planted seed.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck