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hurt

SayHURT/hɝt/UK/hɜːt/

Verbhurts, hurting, hurt

Noun pluralhurts

11 meanings of hurt

Practice

  1. 1
    cause injuryverbtransitive or intransitive
    To cause pain or injury to a person or an animal.

    Don't pull the cat's tail, or you will hurt her.

    He plays rough in games, but he never means to hurt.

    UsageThe past is hurt too (not incorrect: hurted).

    Similarinjure, wound, harm, damage, maul

    Oppositeheal

  2. 2
    harm successverbtransitive or intransitive
    To damage something or make it weaker or less successful.

    Missing school can hurt your grades.

    Our team played well, so the one mistake didn't hurt.

    UsageIt wouldn't hurt to ask means asking is a good idea.

    Similarharm, impair, damage, hinder, impede

    Oppositehelp, benefit, boost, aid

    Note
  3. 3
    be soreverbintransitive
    To be painful, like a sore tooth or a twisted ankle.

    My feet always hurt after a long day of walking.

    Her tooth hurts when she drinks something cold.

    UsageSay my tooth hurts.

    Similarache, smart, pain

    Note
  4. 4
    woundedadjective
    Having a wound or other injury to the body.

    The hurt bird could not fly, so we kept it warm and safe.

    Is anyone hurt after the crash?

    UsageSay get hurt or badly hurt.

    Similarinjured, wounded

    Oppositeunhurt, uninjured, unharmed, unscathed

  5. 5
    pain (feelings)verbtransitive or intransitive
    To make someone feel sad or upset inside.

    What she said hurt me a lot.

    Mean jokes can hurt, even when people laugh along.

    UsageSay it hurt me or I was hurt.

    Similaroffend, insult, wound, affront, slight

    Oppositecomfort, soothe

  6. 6
    distressedadjective
    Feeling pain in the body or sadness inside.

    The dog made a hurt sound when I stepped on its paw.

    She felt hurt when no one saved her a seat at lunch.

    UsageSay she felt hurt.

    Similaraching, sore, tender, suffering, pained

  7. 7
    sorrownouncountable or uncountable
    Sad or painful feelings caused by a bad experience or unkind treatment.

    You could hear the hurt in her voice when she talked about it.

    After the fight, it took weeks for the hurt to go away.

    UsageSay the hurt in her voice or eyes, or hide your hurt.

    Similarhumiliation, mortification

    Note

Practice

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

Origin

From Middle English hurten, meaning to injure or knock together, from Old Northern French hurter, meaning to ram into or strike. Its exact origin is uncertain.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts