the remaining pieces of something that was destroyed or damaged, a destroyed or decayed building or town

in ruins, reduce to ruins, rise from the ruins

Formal and Informal Expressions of ruins

In different contexts, you can replace 'ruins' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'remains, destruction' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'mess, wreck' is a commonplace synonym.

ruins: Explore its Definition & Usage

ruins Definition

1the remaining pieces of something that was destroyed or damaged
2a destroyed or decayed building or town

Using ruins: Examples

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

Example
The ruins of the castle are still visible today.
Example
The city was left in ruins after the earthquake.
Example
The ruins of the ancient civilization were discovered by archaeologists.
Example
The war left the country in ruins.

ruins Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for ruins

debris
decay
remains
wreckage
destruction

Antonyms for ruins

Phrases with ruins

in ruins
destroyed or severely damaged
Example
The house was in ruins after the fire.
reduce to ruins
completely destroy something
Example
The bombing campaign reduced the city to ruins.
rise from the ruins
to recover from a disaster or setback
Example
The country managed to rise from the ruins of war and become prosperous again.

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Summary: ruins in Brief

The term 'ruins' [ro͞onz] refers to the remaining pieces of something that was destroyed or damaged, such as a building or town. It can also refer to the destroyed or decayed structure itself, as in 'The ruins of the castle are still visible today.' The phrase 'in ruins' denotes severe damage, while 'reduce to ruins' means complete destruction. 'Rise from the ruins' is used to describe recovery from a disaster or setback.