ruin
/ˈruːɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruːɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrü-ən -ˌin; ˈrün/ (ame, mw) · /ˈruː.ɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruː.ɪn/ (ame, ipa)
ruin — verb
- ruinpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ruinshe / she / it
- ruinedpast simple
- ruining-ing form
1. To cause something to become worthless, useless, or no longer enjoyable through
To cause something to become worthless, useless, or no longer enjoyable through harm or damage — like heavy rain spoiling a day out, or a cooking mistake making a meal inedible.
A sudden downpour ruined the outdoor wedding ceremony that Esme had spent months planning.
ruin + event/occasion: common pattern for spoiling planned events
Min left the pan on the stove too long and completely ruined the pasta sauce.
completely ruined: intensifier pattern
The cheap detergent ruined Aaron's favourite woollen jumper by shrinking it to half its size.
A single error in the spreadsheet ruined weeks of careful financial planning for the company.
Joaquín's holiday was ruined when his passport was stolen on the first day.
文法句型
ruin + noun (object)
be ruined by + noun
completely/totally ruin + noun
用法筆記
Can be applied to both concrete objects (food, clothes, machinery) and abstract things (plans, events, experiences). The adverb 'completely' or 'totally' often intensifies the verb to emphasise that nothing can be saved.
常見錯誤
2. To strip a person or organisation of their money, social position, or good name
To strip a person or organisation of their money, social position, or good name so completely that they cannot recover — for instance, a failed investment that drains a family's savings, or a scandal that destroys a public figure's career.
The failed restaurant venture ruined Sahil financially and forced him to sell his house.
financially ruined: common adverb collocation
That one scandalous newspaper article completely ruined the senator's reputation among voters.
ruin + reputation/career: abstract damage pattern
The lawsuit dragged on for years and ended up ruining the small family business.
Christopher was ruined by his gambling addiction — he lost his house, marriage, and job.
Thousands of farmers were financially ruined when the drought destroyed three consecutive harvests.
- bankrupt
Specifically legal/financial; means being declared unable to pay debts.
- impoverish
Formal; means to make very poor without necessarily implying legal bankruptcy.
文法句型
ruin + person/company
be financially ruined
ruin someone's reputation/career
用法筆記
This sense focuses specifically on financial or social consequences. Unlike sense 1 (which can apply to a single ruined meal or outing), this sense implies a lasting, life-changing loss. The passive form 'be ruined' is very common when describing the victim of events.
常見錯誤
ruin — noun
- ruinsingular
- ruinsplural
1. The way something becomes worthless or non-functional through destruction or dec
The way something becomes worthless or non-functional through destruction or decay — the point at which its value, quality, or function is completely lost.
The ruin of the old forest began when the logging company moved into the area.
the ruin of + noun: common possessive-type pattern
Years of neglect and poor management brought the once-thriving factory to ruin.
bring [something] to ruin: causative pattern
The ancient irrigation system fell into ruin after the canal that fed it was blocked.
Excessive tourism has led to the ruin of many once-pristine beaches along the coastline.
The scandal meant the complete ruin of everything the organisation had built over fifty years.
- destruction
More general; can be sudden or deliberate, while 'ruin' often implies gradual decay or collapse.
- collapse
Focuses on the act of falling down or failing, often suddenly.
- decay
Emphasises natural, gradual deterioration, often from neglect.
- preservation
The act of keeping something in good condition.
- restoration
The process of returning something to its original good condition.
文法句型
the ruin of [something]
lead to ruin
end in ruin
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. Common in fixed phrases like 'fall into ruin', 'bring to ruin', 'lead to ruin'. These patterns emphasise a gradual process rather than a sudden event. Do not confuse with 'in ruins' (sense 4).
常見錯誤
2. A condition where a person or business has suffered a total loss of wealth, posi
A condition where a person or business has suffered a total loss of wealth, position, or honour and cannot recover from it.
Gambling was the ruin of Nia's uncle — he lost every penny saved over thirty years.
[something] was the ruin of [someone]: causative pattern
The company faced complete financial ruin after the lawsuit awarded millions in damages.
face financial ruin: common verb + adjective collocation
Mert watched his business slide toward ruin as each month brought more debt.
The drought spelled ruin for farming communities across the region who relied on the rains.
A single accounting mistake at the bank led to ruin for dozens of small investors.
- bankruptcy
A specific legal status of being unable to pay debts; more technical than 'ruin'.
- collapse
Can describe financial failure but also physical or structural failure.
- downfall
Often implies a dramatic fall from a high position, especially of a powerful person.
- prosperity
The state of being successful and having enough money.
- success
Achieving wealth, respect, or desired outcomes.
文法句型
[be] the ruin of [someone/company]
face ruin
financial ruin
用法筆記
Commonly appears in economic and business contexts. 'Financial ruin' is a very frequent collocation. The phrase 'the ruin of [someone/something]' can point to a specific cause of the collapse, not just the state itself.
常見錯誤
3. The broken parts or fragments that remain of a building, city, or other structur
The broken parts or fragments that remain of a building, city, or other structure after it has been severely damaged or has fallen into decay over time — especially ancient or historic structures.
Sivan and Lauren visited the ruins of a Roman temple while travelling in southern Turkey.
the ruins of [place]: most common pattern for historical sites
The old castle has stood in ruins on the hill since wartime bombing.
stand in ruins: state-describing pattern
Archaeologists uncovered the ruins of a medieval village buried beneath centuries of earth and vegetation.
Only a few stone walls and a crumbling tower remain of the monastery ruins.
The earthquake reduced the entire neighbourhood to a heap of smoking ruins.
- construction
The process of building something new.
- intact structure
A building that is still whole and undamaged.
文法句型
the ruins of [building/city]
[building] lies in ruins
[building] is in ruins
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'ruins' when referring to physical remains. The singular 'ruin' is rare for this sense and usually appears in fixed expressions like 'a ruin' (meaning a single ruined building). 'In ruins' describes the state of a structure that is badly damaged.
常見錯誤
4. A state of being in an extremely bad, broken, or hopeless condition — used for b
A state of being in an extremely bad, broken, or hopeless condition — used for buildings, cities, plans, relationships, or people's lives that have been completely devastated.
After the divorce, her personal life was in ruins and she started over from nothing.
in ruins: metaphorical use for non-physical things
The earthquake left the entire coastal city in ruins, with thousands of people left homeless.
leave [something] in ruins: causative result pattern
A single rumour about cheating was enough to send the couple's ten-year marriage into ruins.
Eleni's dream to become a musician lay in ruins after the accident damaged her hearing.
The peace talks collapsed and years of diplomatic effort were left in ruins.
- devastated
Adjective describing the emotional or physical impact; can apply to both people and places.
- destroyed
More final and absolute; suggests nothing can be recovered.
- shattered
Often used for abstract things like hopes, dreams, lives; implies fragmentation.
- flourishing
Growing or developing successfully.
- intact
Whole and undamaged.
文法句型
in ruins
lie in ruins
be in ruins
用法筆記
This sense is best understood as a state, not a thing. It always appears in fixed prepositional phrases like 'in ruins', 'into ruins', 'lay in ruins'. Unlike sense 3, this can apply to non-physical things: relationships, plans, careers, hopes. Do not use 'ruins' as a standalone noun in this sense.