worsen
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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worsensimple
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worsenssimple
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have worsenedperfect
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has worsenedperfect
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am worseningprogressive
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are worseningprogressive
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is worseningprogressive
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have been worseningperfect progressive
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has been worseningperfect progressive
Past
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worsenedsimple
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had worsenedperfect
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was worseningprogressive
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were worseningprogressive
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had been worseningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of worsen
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English wersnen “to deteriorate”; see origin at worse, -en 1
Explanation
When things go from terrible to even more terrible, they worsen. If your sore throat worsens, you should call the doctor. If something gets worse, you can say that it worsens. So if the rain that started as a misty drizzle begins to grow torrential, threatening to ruin the picnic you've planned, the weather worsens. And if there's less money in your piggy bank every day, your financial situation worsens. The verb worsen shares a root with war, the Old Saxon werran, meaning "to entangle."
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.
As his mother’s grief and legal battles to get Fadi home worsen her mental health, Sattouf’s own life is upended by high school, hormones, heartbreak — and a nagging uncertainty.
From Salon • Jun. 27, 2026
This will only worsen if measures are not taken to reduce emissions.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026
That would worsen the already difficult situation many European countries find themselves in concerning budget deficits and debt, with their capacity to borrow constrained.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
“A loss of muscle mass in these patients could worsen physical function and result in a bad event like a fall,” Chen said in an email.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026
Dr. Fiona explained that the surgery had been a success but that I had developed an infection and that my condition had started to worsen.
From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai
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.
