Definition

1. Noun:

   • Physical harm or impairment: The state of being harmed, broken, or made less functional or valuable.
   • Detrimental effect or loss: A negative consequence or disadvantage resulting from an action or event.
   • Cost or price (informal): The amount of money required to pay for something.

2. Verb:

   • To cause physical harm or impairment: To inflict harm that reduces the value, usefulness, or normal function of something.
   • To have a detrimental effect on: To negatively impact the condition, reputation, or success of someone or something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The storm caused significant damage to the coastal town. (Physical harm)
  • The scandal did irreparable damage to his political career. (Detrimental effect)
  • The waiter brought the bill and asked, "What's the damage?" (Informal: cost)

• Verb:

  • Be careful not to damage the fragile artwork while moving it. (Cause physical harm)
  • Revealing confidential information could damage our relationship with the client. (Have a detrimental effect)

Advanced Usage

• "To be damaged": Describes the state of having been harmed.
  • The goods arrived damaged and had to be returned.
• "Damage control": Efforts to minimize the negative effects of a problematic situation.
  • After the CEO's controversial statement, the PR team began damage control.

Variants and Related Words

• Damages (plural noun): A sum of money claimed or awarded in compensation for loss or injury.
  • The court ordered the company to pay damages to the injured workers.
• Damageable (adjective): Susceptible to being damaged.
  • The packaging is designed for damageable electronic components.
• Damaging (adjective): Causing harm or damage.
  • The report contained damaging allegations against the minister.

Synonyms

• Noun: Harm, destruction, impairment, detriment, loss.
• Verb: Harm, impair, injure, ruin, spoil.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Damage beyond repair: To harm something so severely it cannot be fixed.
  • The engine was damaged beyond repair in the accident.

Related Idioms

• The damage is done: Used to say that a harmful action has occurred and its negative effects cannot be undone.
  • I know you're sorry for lying, but the damage is done. I can't trust you now.
• What's the damage?: An informal idiom asking for the cost or bill.
  • We've finished our meal. What's the damage?

Noun

1. any harm or injury resulting from a violation of a legal right
2. the amount of money needed to purchase something
   • the price of gasoline
   • he got his new car on excellent terms
   • how much is the damage?
3. the act of damaging something or someone
4. loss of military equipment
5. the occurrence of a change for the worse

Verb

1. suffer or be susceptible to damage
   • These fine china cups damage easily
2. inflict damage upon
   • The snow damaged the roof
   • She damaged the car when she hit the tree