physical harm caused to something that makes it less attractive, useful, or valuable, harmful effects on something that make it weaker or less successful, money that is paid to someone because they have been harmed or injured

do damage, on the damage, take the damage

collateral damage, damage control, take damage

Formal and Informal Expressions of damage

In different contexts, you can replace 'damage' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'harm, injury, destruction' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'mess up, screw up' is a commonplace synonym.

damage: Explore its Definition & Usage

damage Definition

1physical harm caused to something that makes it less attractive, useful, or valuable
2harmful effects on something that make it weaker or less successful
3money that is paid to someone because they have been harmed or injured

Using damage: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "damage" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The storm caused a lot of damage to the building.
Example
The accident resulted in serious damage to his car.
Example
The scandal caused irreparable damage to his reputation.
Example
The company is liable for any damage caused by their products.

damage Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for damage

harm
ruin
impairment
injury
destruction

Antonyms for damage

Idioms Using damage

do damage
to cause harm or injury
Example
The hurricane did a lot of damage to the coastal towns.
on the damage
paying for something that has been damaged or destroyed
Example
The insurance company is on the damage for the repairs to my car.
take the damage
to accept the consequences of something that has gone wrong
Example
He knew he had made a mistake and was willing to take the damage for it.

Phrases with damage

collateral damage
unintended harm or damage caused to people or things that are not intended to be affected by a particular action or event
Example
The bombing campaign resulted in significant collateral damage to nearby buildings and civilians.
damage control
actions taken to limit or minimize the negative effects of something that has gone wrong or is likely to go wrong
Example
The company's PR team went into damage control mode after the scandal broke out.
take damage
to suffer harm or injury
Example
The car took a lot of damage in the accident.

Origins of damage

from Old French 'damager', from Latin 'damnum', meaning 'loss'

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Summary: damage in Brief

The term 'damage' [ˈdæmɪdʒ] refers to physical harm or harmful effects that make something less attractive, useful, or valuable. It can also refer to money paid to someone who has been harmed or injured. Examples include 'The storm caused a lot of damage to the building,' and 'The scandal caused irreparable damage to his reputation.' Phrases like 'collateral damage' and 'damage control' denote unintended harm and actions taken to limit negative effects, respectively.