demolished

/dɪˈmɒl.ɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [dɪmˈɑlɪʃt] /dɪˈmɑː.lɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [dɪmˈɑlɪʃt] /di-ˈmä-lish/ (ame, mw)

demolished — verb

  • demolishedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • demolisheds3rd person singular
  • demolisheding-ing form
  • demolishededpast simple

1. to knock a building down completely, usually so the land can be used for somethi

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to knock a building down completely, usually so the land can be used for something new

例句

The council demolished the old library on King Street to build new flats.

demolished + building type

Rachid watched the crew demolish the abandoned factory near his grandmother's house.

同義詞
  • tear down

    more casual; same core meaning but slightly less formal than 'demolish'

  • raze

    formal or literary; implies flattening a structure completely to the ground

  • knock down

    informal; can be used for smaller structures like sheds or walls

反義詞
  • build

    the direct opposite — putting a structure up rather than taking it down

  • construct

    more formal opposite; used for large-scale building projects

文法句型

demolish + building/structure

用法筆記

Object is almost always a building, bridge, wall, or similar man-made structure — not natural features like hills or trees.

常見錯誤

❌The building was demolished down.
✅The building was demolished.
💡'demolish' already means to knock DOWN; adding 'down' is redundant.

2. to show clearly that a claim, theory, or argument has no basis — breaking it apa

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to show clearly that a claim, theory, or argument has no basis — breaking it apart with evidence or logic

例句

Putri demolished his argument by quoting the rulebook word for word.

demolished + argument

The new research demolished the old theory about how children learn to speak.

同義詞
  • disprove

    the standard neutral term; less dramatic than 'demolish'

  • refute

    formal, often used in academic writing; implies systematic counter-argument

  • debunk

    informal; implies exposing a widely-held belief as false, often with flair

反義詞
  • support

    to provide evidence that makes a claim stronger rather than weaker

  • confirm

    to prove that a theory or claim is actually true

文法句型

demolish + argument/theory/claim

demolish + the idea that + clause

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here the object is always abstract — an argument, theory, or claim — never a physical structure. Common in academic and legal contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She demolished his argument is wrong.
✅She demolished his argument.
💡'demolish' already contains the meaning of proving something wrong; the extra 'is wrong' is unnecessary.

3. to beat an opponent so thoroughly in a game, sport, or competition that they hav

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to beat an opponent so thoroughly in a game, sport, or competition that they have no chance of recovering

例句

Heather's team demolished their rivals six–nil in the cup semi-final.

demolished + sports score

The young chess champion demolished every grandmaster at the tournament last weekend.

同義詞
  • thrash

    informal; implies a one-sided, often embarrassing defeat

  • rout

    more formal; suggests a disorderly, complete defeat with the losing side fleeing

  • crush

    informal and emphatic; similar to 'demolish' but slightly more common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • lose to

    the straightforward opposite — being on the receiving end of a defeat

文法句型

demolish + opponent/team

be demolished + score

用法筆記

Used mainly in sport and competition contexts. The subject can be a person, a team, or even a performance. Distinguish from sense 2: here the focus is on overwhelming victory, not on proving something false.

常見錯誤

❌They demolished with their rivals.
✅They demolished their rivals.
💡'demolish' is transitive and takes the opponent as a direct object; no preposition is needed.

4. to eat every bit of food on your plate very quickly, as if you were destroying i

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to eat every bit of food on your plate very quickly, as if you were destroying it — used humorously

例句

Hamza demolished the entire pizza before anyone else had finished their first slice.

demolished + food item (informal register)

After the long hike, the children demolished the sandwiches in under five minutes.

同義詞
  • devour

    more formal and literary; can also be used for non-food things like books

  • wolf down

    informal; emphasises speed — you eat so fast you barely chew

  • polish off

    informal; implies finishing the last portion of something, often with satisfaction

反義詞
  • nibble

    to eat in tiny, slow bites — the complete opposite of demolishing a meal

文法句型

demolish + food/dish/meal

用法筆記

Informal and humorous. The image is of attacking food as if destroying a building. Used only with food and meals — never with drinks. Distinguish from sense 1: the object here is always edible.

常見錯誤

❌I demolished up the cake.
✅I demolished the cake.
💡No particle is needed; 'demolish' alone already conveys eating quickly and completely.