hurt

1 of 2

verb

ˈhərt 

hurt; hurting

transitive verb

1

a

: to inflict with physical pain : wound

He hurt his back while moving some boxes.

was seriously hurt in a car accident

You're hurting my arm!

b

: to do substantial or material harm to : damage

the dry summer has hurt the land

2

a

: to cause emotional pain or anguish to : offend

never meant to hurt you

got her feelings hurt

b

: to be detrimental to : hamper

charges of graft hurt his chances of being elected

intransitive verb

1

a

: to suffer pain or grief

He says his tooth hurts.

has been hurting ever since learning of her friend's betrayal

b

: to be in need

—usually used with for

hurting for money

2

: to cause damage or distress

hit where it hurts

hurt adjective

hurter noun

hurt

2 of 2

noun

1

: a cause of injury or damage : blow

this tower of granite, weathering the hurts of so many ages

—R. W. Emerson

2

a

: a bodily injury or wound

b

: mental or emotional distress or anguish : suffering

getting past the hurt of a bitter divorce

3

: wrong, harm

subordinating cosmic to moral considerations, to the hurt of both

—M. R. Cohen

Synonyms

Verb

• ache
• pain
• smart

Noun

• affliction
• agony
• anguish
• distress
• excruciation
• misery
• pain
• rack
• strait(s)
• torment
• torture
• travail
• tribulation
• woe

Choose the Right Synonym for hurt

injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar mean to affect injuriously.

injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

Examples of hurt in a Sentence

Verb

Be careful with that knife or you could hurt yourself.

Ouch! You're hurting my arm!

She was badly hurt in a car accident.

My tooth still hurts me.

When I woke up this morning I hurt all over.

Their lack of interest in her work hurt her deeply.

You're only hurting yourself by holding a grudge against them.

It hurt me to see her go.

The lack of rain has hurt the corn crop.

If we lose this game it will seriously hurt our chances of making the play-offs.

Noun

Her sympathy eased the hurt he felt after his dog's death.

They felt a great hurt after their bitter divorce.

She tried to put past hurts behind her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The public pleas for testing are part of health officials’ efforts to halt the outbreak that has disproportionately hurt Native Americans in the Great Plains and Southwest. —Kff Health News, Orange County Register, 13 Nov. 2024

Matthews devotes one parenthetical sentence claiming rocket launches hurt coastal wildlife. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

Noun

Seeing the mix of shock, trepidation, and genuine hurt flash across Stephen’s oft-smug mug is surprisingly satisfying. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024

The poster nevertheless supported her friend—until a text exchange with him left her hurt and confused. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, probably from Anglo-French hurter to strike, prick, collide with, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse hrūtr male sheep

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hurt

• hurt feelings
• hurt for
• hurt someone's feelings
• it couldn't/can't hurt
• it doesn't hurt
• it won't hurt
• it wouldn't hurt
• put the/a hurt on
• what someone doesn't know can't/won't hurt him/her
• wouldn't hurt a fly

Kids Definition

hurt

1 of 2 verb

ˈhərt 

hurt; hurting

1

a

: to cause physical pain to

b

: to do harm to : damage

2

a

: to cause mental suffering to : offend

the teasing hurts me

b

: hamper entry 1

injuries hurt our chances of winning

3

: to feel or cause pain

my tooth hurts

hurter noun

hurt

2 of 2 noun

1

: a cause of injury or damage

2

: a physical injury or wound

3

a

: physical pain

b

: mental distress : suffering

4

: wrong entry 1 sense 1, harm