Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense damages, present participle damaging, past tense, past participle damaged
1. verb
To damage an object means to break it, spoil it physically, or stop it from working properly.
He maliciously damaged a car with a baseball bat. [VERB noun]
The sun can damage your skin. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: spoil, hurt, injure, smash More Synonyms of damage
2. verb
To damage something means to cause it to become less good, pleasant, or successful.
Jackson doesn't want to damage his reputation as a political personality. [VERB noun]
He warned that the action was damaging the economy. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: harm, ruin, mar, stain More Synonyms of damage
damagingadjective
Is the recycling process in itself damaging to the environment? [+ to]
Synonyms: harmful, detrimental, hurtful, ruinous More Synonyms of damage
3. uncountable noun
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
The blast caused extensive damage to the house. [+ to]
Many professional boxers end their careers with brain damage.
4. uncountable noun
Damage consists of the unpleasant effects that something has on a person, situation, or type of activity.
Incidents of this type cause irreparable damage to relations with the community. [+ to]
Adhering to the new rules meant inflicting serious damage on motor racing.
5. plural noun
If a court of law awards damages to someone, it orders money to be paid to them by a person who has damaged their reputation or property, or who has injured them.
He was vindicated in court and damages were awarded.
6.
See the damage is done
More Synonyms of damage
damage in British English
(ˈdæmɪdʒ)
noun
1.
injury or harm impairing the function or condition of a person or thing
2.
loss of something desirable
3. informal
cost; expense (esp in the phrase what's the damage?)
verb
4. (transitive)
to cause damage to
5. (intransitive)
to suffer damage
Derived forms
damageable (ˈdamageable)
adjective
damageability (ˌdamageaˈbility)
noun
damager (ˈdamager)
noun
damaging (ˈdamaging)
adjective
damagingly (ˈdamagingly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin damnum injury, loss, fine
damage in American English
(ˈdæmɪdʒ)
noun
1.
injury or harm to a person or thing, resulting in a loss in soundness or value
2. [pl.]; Law
money claimed by, or ordered paid to, a person to compensate for injury or loss caused by the wrong of the opposite party or parties
3. Informal
cost or expense
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈdamaged or ˈdamaging
4.
to do damage to
verb intransitive
5.
to incur damage
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈinjure
Derived forms
damageable (ˈdamageable)
adjective
Word origin
ME < OFr < dam < L damnum, loss, injury: see damn
damage in Insurance1
(dæmɪdʒ)
Word forms: (present) damages, (past) damaged, (perfect) damaged, (progressive) damaging
verb
(Insurance: General)
If you damage something or part of someone's body, you cause physical harm.
Public liability insurance covers a business against claims should its operationsinjure a member of the public or damage their property in some way.
If the operator of the boat accidentally damages another boat or injures some swimmers, there would be protection.
If you damage something or part of someone's body, you cause physical harm.
damage in Insurance2
(dæmɪdʒ)
noun
(Insurance: General)
Damage is physical harm that is done to something or to a part of someone's body.
Coverage for flood and earthquake damage is excluded and must be purchased separately.
Liability insurance covers what the policyholder is legally obligated to pay becauseof bodily injury or property damage caused to another person.
Damage is physical harm that is done to something or to a part of someone's body.
COBUILD Collocations
damage
catastrophic damage
cell damage
claim damages
considerable damage
emotional damage
environmental damage
inspect the damage
kidney damage
liver damage
minor damage
nerve damage
pay damages
seek damages
skin damage
storm damage
structural damage
sustain damage
tissue damage
undo the damage
untold damage
wreak damage
Examples of 'damage' in a sentence
damage
Her damages claim includes loss of earnings up to the normal retirement age.
The Sun (2016)
The police said two men had been held on suspicion of criminal damage.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It was a troublesome end to a damaging week for the billionaire.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We are worried about the potential damage to our property and belongings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Doctors said that she would be brain damaged and in need of intensive care.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The financial costs and reputational damage of losing such a case are enormous.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The change in law would mean compulsory third-party injury and damage insurance for all vehicles involved in sports.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A number of cars were damaged and a member of the public was injured.
The Sun (2016)
Many suffered skin damage on holidays in the 1970s and 80s.
The Sun (2017)
Then the punishment of individuals invariably took account of the harm or damage done to the victim.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
He suffered brain damage that affects his speech and left gaps in his memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The problems are the enormous cost and the damage to the countryside from the new route.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The law of damages places a higher value on a badly injured thumb than on a life.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It will lead to a longer court case where damages will be sought.
The Sun (2012)
Wildlife groups claim a tidal scheme would damage the natural environment.
The Sun (2009)
They also have the ability to cause extensive damage to your scalp.
The Sun (2014)
These are just individuals intent on criminal damage.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The real question is which party will cause the least damage in managing them.
The Sun (2009)
Yet the closure of the banks will have inflicted great damage on the economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We were doing more damage than good.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Many shops were damaged or destroyed by air raids.
The Sun (2008)
Yet the serious financial damage will not become apparent for many years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Seeing him again could end up damaging your marriage.
The Sun (2014)
Witnesses said that the damage from that blast appeared to be more modest than the others.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is also a wider appreciation of the brand damage that a reputation for avoidance can involve.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You could pursue a civil action for damages against your ex but it could be costly.
The Sun (2013)
Both brothers allege that serious damage was inflicted on their reputations and businesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The first involved a tree that had caused damage to property and had been rejected.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He is seeking damages for harm to his reputation and career.
The Sun (2015)
Defence lawyers will claim this could have caused the brain damage.
The Sun (2011)
That more limited duty was to take reasonable care to protect the client against suffering personal injury or damage to other property.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Its long-term toxic effects account for more damage than passive smoking and all road accidents put together.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But until a claim was actually made, no loss or damage was sustained by the fund.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
damage
British English: damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ NOUN
Damage is injury or harm that is caused to something.
The fire caused extensive damage to the restaurant.
American English: damage
Arabic: ضَرَر
Brazilian Portuguese: dano
Chinese: 损害
Croatian: šteta
Czech: poškození
Danish: skade
Dutch: schade
European Spanish: daño
Finnish: vaurio
French: dommage
German: Schaden
Greek: βλάβη
Italian: danno
Japanese: 損傷
Korean: 손상
Norwegian: skade
Polish: szkoda
European Portuguese: dano
Romanian: daună
Russian: ущерб
Latin American Spanish: daño
Swedish: skada
Thai: ความเสียหาย
Turkish: zarar
Ukrainian: пошкодження
Vietnamese: thiệt hại
British English: damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ VERB
If you damage something, you injure or harm it.
He damaged his knee during training.
American English: damage
Arabic: يَضُرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: danificar
Chinese: 损害
Croatian: oštetiti
Czech: poškodit
Danish: skade
Dutch: beschadigen
European Spanish: dañar
Finnish: vahingoittaa tuottaa vahinkoa
French: endommager
German: beschädigen
Greek: βλάπτω
Italian: danneggiare
Japanese: 損傷する
Korean: 손상하다
Norwegian: skade
Polish: uszkodzić
European Portuguese: danificar
Romanian: a deteriora
Russian: наносить ущерб
Latin American Spanish: dañar
Swedish: skada
Thai: ทำให้ได้รับอันตราย
Turkish: zarar vermek
Ukrainian: пошкоджувати
Vietnamese: làm hư hại
All related terms of 'damage'
bomb damage
damage to buildings, etc caused by the explosion of a bomb
cell damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
fire damage
damage caused to a building or other object by fire
skin damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
brain damage
If someone suffers brain damage , their brain is damaged by an illness or injury so that they cannot function normally .
damage cells
A cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant that is able to function independently. Every animal or plant is made up of millions of cells.
damage health
A person's health is the condition of their body and the extent to which it is free from illness or is able to resist illness.
damage survey
an inspection by an insurance company of something that has been damaged and for which an insurance claim has been made, in order to determine the extent and cause of damage
flood damage
damage to property caused by floodwater
kidney damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
liver damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
minor damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
nerve damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
storm damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
tissue damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
untold damage
Damage consists of the unpleasant effects that something has on a person, situation, or type of activity.
wreak damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
criminal damage
intentionally damaging property that belongs to someone else, including public property
damage control
Damage control is action that is taken to make the bad results of something as small as possible , when it is impossible to avoid bad results completely.
sustain damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
accidental damage
damage to a person's home or its contents that occurs unintentionally during the course of everyday life
collateral damage
Collateral damage is accidental injury to non-military people or damage to non-military buildings which occurs during a military operation.
damage confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
damage limitation
Damage limitation is action that is taken to make the bad results of something as small as possible, when it is impossible to avoid bad results completely.
emotional damage
Damage consists of the unpleasant effects that something has on a person, situation, or type of activity.
malicious damage
Malicious damage is damage caused on purpose to the property of another person.
structural damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
catastrophic damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
considerable damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
environmental damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
inspect the damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
undo the damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
damage a relationship
A relationship is a close connection between two people, especially one involving romantic or sexual feelings .
damage the recovery
When there is a recovery in a country's economy, it improves .
the damage is done
If you say ' the damage is done ', you mean that it is too late now to prevent the harmful effects of something that has already happened .
collision damage waiver
a form of optional collision insurance cover for a vehicle that is being rented
damage limitation exercise
an activity pursued to make the bad results of something as small as possible , when it is impossible to avoid bad results completely