hurt

[ hurt ]

verb (used with object)

, hurt, hurt·ing.

1. to cause bodily injury to; injure:

   He was badly hurt in the accident.

2. to cause bodily pain to or in:

   The wound still hurts him.

3. to damage or decrease the efficiency of (a material object) by striking, rough use, improper care, etc.:

   Moths can't hurt this suit because it's mothproof.

   Dirty oil can hurt a car's engine.

   Synonyms: impair, mar

4. to affect adversely; harm:

   to hurt one's reputation;

   It wouldn't hurt the lawn if you watered it more often.

5. to cause mental pain to; offend or grieve:

   She hurt his feelings by not asking him to the party.

   Synonyms: wound, afflict

verb (used without object)

, hurt, hurt·ing.

1. to feel or suffer bodily or mental pain or distress:

   My back still hurts.

   Synonyms: ache

2. to cause bodily or mental pain or distress:

   The blow to his pride hurt most.

3. to cause injury, damage, or harm.
4. to suffer want or need.

noun

1. a blow that inflicts a wound; bodily injury or the cause of such injury.
2. injury, damage, or harm.
3. the cause of mental pain or offense, as an insult.

   Synonyms: slight, cut

4. Heraldry. a rounded azure.

adjective

1. physically injured:

   The hurt child was taken to the hospital.

2. offended; unfavorably affected:

   hurt pride.

3. suggesting that one has been offended or is suffering in mind:

   Take that hurt look off your face!

4. damaged:

   hurt merchandise.

hurt

¹

/ hɜːt /

verb

1. to cause physical pain to (someone or something)
2. to cause emotional pain or distress to (someone)
3. to produce a painful sensation in (someone)

   the bruise hurts

4. informal.
   intr to feel pain

noun

1. physical, moral, or mental pain or suffering
2. a wound, cut, or sore
3. damage or injury; harm

adjective

1. injured or pained physically or emotionally

   a hurt look

   a hurt knee

hurt

²

/ hɜːt; hwɜːt /

noun

1. dialect.
   another name for whortleberry

Derived Forms

• ˈhurter, noun

Other Words From

• hurt·a·ble adjective
• hurt·er noun
• un·hurt adjective
• un·hurt·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurt¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English verb hurten, hirten, herten “to injure, damage, stumble, knock together,” apparently from Old French hurter “to knock (against), oppose” (compare French heurter, originally dialectal), probably a verbal derivative of Frankish unattested hûrt “ram,” cognate with Old Norse hrūtr; noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurt¹

C12 hurten to hit, from Old French hurter to knock against, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse hrūtr ram, Middle High German hurt a collision

Idioms and Phrases

see not hurt a fly .

Synonym Study

See injury.

Example Sentences

That would hurt Tesla’s unprofitable rivals that rely more on the tax credits to lure customers.

From Los Angeles Times

The other half of America will feel the hurt later, when tariffed toilet paper costs $10 a roll and lettuce is sold by the leaf because there are only 10 documented workers left in the country to pick the stuff.

From Los Angeles Times

When else are they going to catch the Cowboys with a bunch of guys hurt and Cooper Rush at quarterback?

From Los Angeles Times

As president, he loved the pomp of a military parade, but hated facing the real people who serve — and are sometimes hurt or killed in real-world combat.

From Salon

The two-time Oscar nominee, known for his roles as William James in “The Hurt Locker” and the arrow-slinging Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will head the nearly 100-year-old parade.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ache
• bruise
• discomfort
• outrage
• pain
• suffering