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curse

SayKURS/kɝs/UK/kɜːs/

Pluralcurses

Verbcurses, cursing, cursed

9 meanings of curse

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  1. 1
    doom by magicnouncountable
    Bad luck or harm that comes from magic or a higher power.

    The villagers believed a curse had ruined their crops.

    In the story, the prince sleeps for a hundred years because of a curse.

    UsageSay put a curse on someone.

    Similarhex, jinx

    Oppositeblessing

    Note
  2. 2
    swearverbintransitive
    To say bad words that may upset or offend people.

    Please don't curse in front of the kids.

    My uncle curses a lot, so Mom asked him to stop.

    UsageSay curse at someone.

    Similarswear

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To use magic to make bad things happen to a person or thing.

    The witch cursed the king's daughter on her first birthday.

    People say an angry spirit will curse anyone who enters the cave.

    Similarbewitch, damn

    Oppositebless

    Note
  4. 4
    wish evil onverbtransitive
    To ask God or a spirit to hurt someone, or to wish very bad things on them.

    The beggar cursed the rich man who had kicked him.

    Don't curse your brother, even when you're angry with him.

    UsagePeople say I curse the day I did something.

    Similardamn, denounce, condemn, revile

    Oppositebless

    Note
  5. 5
    source of troublenouncountable
    Something that causes a lot of harm or trouble.

    Mosquitoes are the curse of summer at the lake.

    For the farmers, the long drought was a real curse.

    UsagePeople say something is a blessing and a curse.

    Similarplague, affliction

    Oppositeblessing, boon, godsend

    Note
  6. 6
    nouncountable
    Words that ask for something bad to happen to someone.

    The old woman shouted a curse at the men who burned her farm.

    With his last breath, the king spoke a curse against his enemies.

    Similarmalediction, anathema

    Oppositeblessing, benediction

  7. 7
    swear wordnouncountable
    A rude or dirty word, like one you should not say in class.

    He let out a curse when he dropped his phone.

    The coach doesn't allow curses on the field.

    UsageSay let out a curse or mutter a curse.

    Similarexpletive, obscenity, profanity, cuss, cussword

    Note
  8. 8
    verbtransitive
    To bring someone great pain or trouble, or give them a problem that keeps hurting them.

    She was cursed with a bad back that hurt every winter.

    Bad luck seemed to curse the team all season.

    UsageSay someone is cursed with something bad.

    Similarafflict

    Oppositebless

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 9
    monthly periodnoundatedwith the
    A woman's monthly period, usually called "the curse".

    UsageSay period instead.

    Similarperiod, menstruation, monthlies

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of curse apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 5–7, 9

It comes from the Old English word curs. Where that word came from is unknown.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 2–4, 8

It comes from the Old English verb cursian, which was made from the noun.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts