Meaning & use
ruin
Last updated
The physical destruction or collapse of something, or the remains of a building or structure that has decayed or been destroyed.
See it in a sentence
The ancient ruin drew thousands of tourists each year.
Years of neglect led the estate to fall into ruin.
A note on using this word
As a verb, 'to ruin' means to damage something so severely that it can no longer be used or valued.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. verb
To damage or spoil something completely.
The spilled coffee ruined her white blouse.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ruin”, then compare your use with the examples above.