Ruin
'ruːɪn
Definitions
3 meaningsThe physical or metaphorical destruction or decay of something.
'ruːɪn
The state of having been destroyed or damaged severely.
The earthquake left the city in ruins.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite toy breaks into pieces. That toy is in a ruin, broken and not working anymore. It's like something's fallen apart.
👶 For kids: When something is broken and messed up, like an old, broken down house, that is a ruin.
More Examples
The once-grand mansion was now a ruin.
Financial mismanagement led to the company's ruin.
How It's Used
"The ruins of the ancient city were a testament to its former glory."
"His financial ruin was a direct result of the economic crisis."
The act of bringing something to a state of destruction or severe damage.
'ruːɪn
The action or process of causing something to be destroyed or damaged severely.
The scandal brought about his professional ruin.
💡 Simply: Imagine you build a tower of blocks, and someone knocks it down on purpose. That act of knocking the tower down is the ruin of the tower.
👶 For kids: Ruin is when someone or something gets messed up or broken because of something bad.
More Examples
Careless spending led to the ruin of their savings.
The flood caused the ruin of many homes in the valley.
How It's Used
"His gambling addiction was his ruin."
"The scandal led to the ruin of her reputation."
To destroy or severely damage something, making it useless or worthless.
'ruːɪn
To destroy or severely damage something.
The fire ruined the building.
💡 Simply: If you spill juice on a drawing and it makes it all blurry, you've ruined the drawing. It means something is broken or made not good anymore.
👶 For kids: To ruin something means to break it or make it not good anymore, like when you spill paint on your favorite shirt.
More Examples
His gambling habits ruined his finances.
The rain ruined our picnic plans.
How It's Used
"The recession ruined many businesses."
"The accident ruined her vacation."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
to be in ruins
To be completely destroyed or severely damaged.
"After the storm, the town was in ruins."
ruin someone's day
To make someone's day unpleasant or spoiled.
"His bad mood ruined everyone's day."
From Middle English ruine, from Old French ruine, from Latin ruina ('a collapse, a downfall'), from ruere ('to rush, fall').
Used since the 13th century, evolving from the French 'ruine' to describe the decayed remains of buildings or the destructive process.
Memory tip
Think of a collapsed building – that’s a ruin. It's lost its former shape and value.
Word Origin
"a collapse, downfall"