WordGarden.iohurt
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɜːt/
US
- /ˈhɜrt/
Meanings
Verb
to cause physical pain or injury
to feel physical pain
to cause emotional pain or distress
More meaningsFewer meanings
to damage or negatively affect someone or something
Adjective
physically injured
emotionally upset or offended
Beyond the definition
To hurt someone can mean to physically injure them, like scraping your knee. But it also means to cause emotional pain. You might hurt someone's feelings with harsh words, or feel hurt when a friend lets you down. Think of a bee sting: that hurts physically. And think of betrayal: that hurts emotionally.
The word can also be used to describe an ache or discomfort: "My back hurts." Sometimes it means causing damage or having a bad effect, as in "The storm hurt the crops." It's a common word we use every day for both physical and emotional pain.
"Hurt" is a surprisingly complex little word that describes a wide range of experiences, from physical injury to deep emotional pain. At its most basic, to hurt means to cause physical pain or injury. A fall might hurt your arm, or a sharp object could hurt your hand. But the meaning extends far beyond the body.
We also use "hurt" to describe emotional distress. Saying something unkind can hurt someone's feelings, and losing a loved one can leave deep pain. You might say, "I'm really hurting right now," to describe your state of mind.
"Hurt" isn't always about causing pain; it can also describe the sensation of pain itself. "My head hurts" simply means you have a headache. It can even be used to express damage or loss, as in, "The economic downturn hurt small businesses."
Sometimes "hurt" implies an unintended consequence. You might accidentally hurt someone's feelings without meaning to. It's a word that speaks to vulnerability and to both physical and emotional suffering, something everyone experiences at some point in life. That is why this simple word can fit so many everyday situations.
Examples
- 1
Injury
I hurt my ankle playing soccer.
- 2
Physical pain
Does your head hurt when you bend down?
- 3
Accident report
No one was hurt in the accident.
- 4
Safety warning
Be careful with that knife, or you'll hurt yourself.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Feelings
I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
- Phrasehurt someone's feelings
make someone feel upset
- 6
Emotional pain
She was deeply hurt by what he said.
- 7
Opportunity
Missing the deadline could hurt our chances of getting the contract.
- Patternhurt + someone's chances
make success less likely
- 8
Reputation
The scandal really hurt the company's reputation.
- 9
Low risk
A short walk won't hurt.
- Phrasewon't hurt
probably won't cause any problem
- 10
Polite suggestion
It wouldn't hurt to ask for help.
- Patternit wouldn't hurt to + verb
there is no risk in doing it; it may help
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hurtnounverbadjective
Forms
- hurtsverbnounadjective
- hurting-ing formverbnounadjective