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ruins

  • plural
    of ruin.
    ruin
    noun
    ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay.
  • present tense form
    of ruin (3rd person singular).
    ruin
    noun
    ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay.

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.

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In the weeks afterward, people returned to offices overlooking the smoky ruins.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

When a 21-member Chinese rescue team reached Gyirong on 28 August, one rescuer told Reuters: "As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but ruins."

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Emilie Lopes and her dog, Viktor, during an insurance adjuster’s visit to the ruins of her house in Le Porge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

In Batroun, a northern coastal city home to the ruins of a small Roman amphitheatre, an archaeologist was surrounded by tools and papers, documenting the latest finds as waves lapped rocks nearby.

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

“I’ve seen it before. You just remember us, okay? We meet in the outside world, it just ruins it. You’ll be embarrassed of me and I...”

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini