ruin
noun
ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay.
ruins
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pluralof ruin.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof ruin (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
ruinnounruins, 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.
Marlene Nino, a 70-year-old retired lawyer who lost her sister Doris, said she felt grateful for the volunteers who helped recover some of her photos from the ruins.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The ruins of the Soviet command economy were also a crucible for innovation, said Kadri Ukrainski, who lectures on the subject at Estonia's Tartu University.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
Juan Galicia stood in front of the ruins of his Larchmont home, the burned-out frame of a 1910 Craftsman.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
In “Empire of Ashes,” he plumbs survivors’ heartbreaking accounts, bringing readers to the rubble of atomic ruins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Down the block, she climbs over the burning ruins of her home, a small maisonette on the corner.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
