Ruin Meaning: Complete Destruction with Examples

Meaning 1：destroy completely (ruin)

ruin 🔊

/ˈruːɪn/

To damage something so badly that it becomes useless, worthless, or no longer enjoyable.

Ruin example: soaked ruined book vs preserved book on table

destroy completely 🔊

➕

/dɪˈstrɔɪ kəmˈpliːtli/

To cause something to be completely damaged, spoiled, or no longer functional or enjoyable.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'ruina' (a collapse), from 'ruere' (to fall down).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'ruined' building: to ruin is to cause complete collapse or spoilage.

📖 Example

The sudden heavy rain completely ruined our picnic in the park. 🔊 The sudden heavy rain completely ruined our picnic in the park.

🔗 Collocations

ruin one's chances – to completely destroy someone's opportunity or possibility of success

ruin the economy – to cause severe and lasting damage to a country's economic system

ruin someone's day – to completely spoil someone's day, making it unpleasant or disappointing

🔄 Synonyms

destroy (v.) – to cause severe damage so that something no longer exists or functions

wreck (v.) – to damage something so badly that it is broken or destroyed

demolish (v.) – to completely destroy a building, structure, or system

🚫 Antonyms

repair (v.) – to fix something that is broken or damaged

build (v.) – to construct or create something new

preserve (v.) – to maintain something in its original or existing state

🌱 Derivatives

ruinous (adj.) – causing great damage or destruction

ruination (n.) – the act or process of ruining something or the state of being ruined

ruiner (n.) – a person or thing that causes ruin

📖 Cultural Story

From Latin 'ruina' (collapse) via Old French 'ruine'. Originally described building collapses, later any total destruction or spoiling. Common in phrases like 'financial ruin' or 'ruined reputation'.