Harming
/ˈhɑːrmɪŋ/
Definitions
To cause physical or emotional injury or damage.
/ˈhɑːrmɪŋ/
To cause physical or emotional injury or damage to someone or something.
The bully was harming the smaller children.
💡 Simply: Harming is like making someone or something feel bad, hurt, or damaged. For example, if you're mean to your friend, you're harming their feelings.
👶 For kids: To make someone or something feel bad or get hurt.
More Examples
The careless driver was harming other drivers through reckless driving.
Excessive sun exposure is harming the skin.
How It's Used
"The defendant was accused of harming the victim."
"Pollution is harming the environment."
Idioms & expressions
Do no harm
To avoid causing injury or damage, especially as a principle of action.
"The doctor's first priority is to do no harm to the patient."
From Middle English *harmen*, from Old English *hearmian* (“to injure, harm”), from Proto-Germanic *harmaz* (“harm”).
Historically, 'harm' and 'harming' have been used in legal, moral, and religious contexts to describe acts that inflict damage or injury. The concept of 'harm' has long been central to ethical and legal systems.
Memory tip
Think of 'harm' as causing bad things.