hurt
hurt
Pronunciation
/hɜːrt/
hɜːrt: /h/ (as in "hat") + /ɜː/ (as in "bird") + /r/ (as in "red") + /t/ (as in "top")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: hurt
Third-person singular present: hurts
Present participle: hurting
Past simple: hurt
Past participle: hurt
Noun:
Singular: hurt
Plural: hurts
Adjective:
hurt (used as a past participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To cause physical pain or injury to (oneself or someone else).
Synonyms: injure, wound, damage, ache, pain
Antonyms: heal, soothe, comfort, relieve
Example: She accidentally hurt her knee while playing soccer.
To cause emotional distress, sorrow, or offense to (someone).
Synonyms: upset, offend, grieve, distress, wound
Antonyms: please, comfort, reassure, soothe
Example: His cruel words really hurt her feelings.
To suffer from pain or injury, either physical or emotional.
Synonyms: ache, smart, throb, grieve, suffer
Antonyms: recover, heal, feel good, be well
Example: My back still hurts from the fall.
To have a negative or detrimental effect on (something); to damage or impair.
Synonyms: harm, impair, damage, undermine, weaken
Antonyms: help, benefit, improve, strengthen
Example: The economic downturn really hurt small businesses.
Noun
Physical injury or pain.
Synonyms: injury, wound, pain, ache, soreness
Antonyms: relief, comfort, healing, recovery
Example: The hurt from the cut was intense.
Emotional pain, distress, or suffering.
Synonyms: sorrow, grief, anguish, distress, heartache
Antonyms: joy, happiness, comfort, relief
Example: The betrayal caused her deep hurt.
Damage or harm done to something.
Synonyms: damage, harm, impairment, detriment
Antonyms: benefit, advantage, improvement
Example: The scandal caused significant hurt to his reputation.
Adjective
Suffering from physical injury or pain. (Used as a past participle)
Synonyms: injured, wounded, aching, sore, pained
Antonyms: healthy, healed, well, unharmed
Example: The hurt bird couldn't fly.
Feeling emotional pain or distress. (Used as a past participle)
Synonyms: upset, offended, grieved, distressed, wounded
Antonyms: happy, pleased, comforted, relieved
Example: She looked very hurt after the argument.
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a hurt that time would never truly heal, a scar left by a love lost too soon." (Fictional novel, The Echoes of Yesterday by Eleanor Vance)
"The author delves into the psychological hurt endured by soldiers returning from war, examining the unseen wounds that linger long after physical ones mend." (Non-fiction analysis, Invisible Scars: Understanding Trauma by Dr. Alex Chen)
Newspapers:
"The local economy will undoubtedly hurt if the proposed factory closure goes ahead, leading to significant job losses." (Headline, The Daily Gazette)
"While the team played with passion, their inability to convert chances ultimately hurt their chances of winning the championship." (Sports section, The National Post)
Online Publications:
"Cyberbullying can cause immense emotional hurt to young people, often leading to long-term psychological effects." (Article on a mental health website, MindfulLiving.org)
"Investors are bracing for a potential market downturn that could hurt portfolio values across the board." (Financial news blog, MarketPulse.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "You really hurt me with what you said last night. I didn't think you meant it." (From the romantic drama film, A Fractured Promise)
Television Series: (Voiceover narration) "Despite the physical hurt of the training, the aspiring Olympian pushed through, driven by an unyielding desire for gold." (From a sports documentary series, Chasing Greatness, Episode 3, aired 2025)
Music (Song Lyrics): "Every time you leave, it hurts a little more / Leaving me broken on the floor." (From the pop song "Broken Apart" by Seraphina, released 2023)
Video Game: (On-screen text when a character takes damage) "You took 25 hurt points!" (Action RPG, Chronicles of Eldoria, 2022)
Podcast: "Our guest today shares how a deeply personal experience of hurt ultimately led them to advocate for greater empathy in society." (Interview segment on "The Human Connection Podcast," Episode 112, June 2025)
General Public Discourse:
(Conversation between friends) "I accidentally dropped my phone, and now the screen is all cracked. It really hurts to see it like this." (Informal conversation)
(Social media post) "It hurts my heart to see so much division in the world right now. We need more understanding and kindness." (Personal Facebook post)
(Public speech) "We must acknowledge the historical hurt inflicted upon marginalized communities and work towards genuine reconciliation." (Speech by a community leader at a public forum)
10 Famous Quotes Using Hurt
"The truth may hurt for a little while, but a lie hurts forever." (Unknown)
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." (Friedrich Nietzsche, often paraphrased)
"Sometimes it takes a heartbreak to shake us awake and help us see we are worth so much more than we've been settling for." (Mandy Hale)
"To hurt is to feel, and to feel is to be alive." (Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)
"I have been hurt before, but I will not let that define me." (Oprah Winfrey)
"We are all a little broken. But the last time I checked, broken crayons still color." (Shane L. Koyczan)
"You cannot hurt me without my permission." (Mahatma Gandhi, often paraphrased)
"It is not the pain that hurts, but the thought of the pain." (Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist)
"The greatest hurt is to be forgotten." (Unknown)
"Words can hurt more than swords." (Robert Burton)
Etymology
The word "hurt" has a somewhat tangled but fascinating history, stemming from old words that basically meant "to hit" or "to strike."
Think of the very first meaning of "hurt" as being "to crash into, strike, or ram."
It came into English around the 12th century (so, around the year 1100s) from Old French, specifically the word "hurter." This "hurter" meant something like "to ram into, strike, or collide with."
Where did "hurter" come from? That's a bit less certain, but one strong theory points to an older Germanic word, possibly from a language like Frankish, which had a word like "hūrt" meaning "a battering ram." Imagine a powerful tool used for forceful impact – that gives you a good sense of the original "hitting" idea.
Interestingly, there might also have been a related Old English word, "hyrtan", which meant "to drive, rush, or press forward," further reinforcing the idea of forceful motion. While "hyrtan" also existed, the strong connection seems to be to the French "hurter."
Over time, the meaning of "hurt" expanded from just a physical "hit" to include causing physical injury or pain. So, if you "hurt" someone, you're not just bumping them, you're causing them actual harm.
Later on, the meaning broadened even more to include emotional pain or damage. So, someone's words could "hurt" your feelings, even though there's no physical contact.
The sense of something "hurting" on its own (like "my leg hurts") is a bit more recent in English, becoming common in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The older usage was more about causing hurt.
So, in a nutshell, "hurt" started as a word about forceful impact or striking, and then slowly developed to mean causing physical injury, and eventually, emotional distress.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hurt
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "hurt":
Hurt someone's feelings: To cause emotional pain or sadness to someone.
Hurt oneself: To injure oneself.
Hurt for something: To be in great need or want of something. (e.g., "The small business is hurting for cash.")
Hurt no one: To be harmless or inoffensive.
Where it hurts: In a place or situation where one is most vulnerable or sensitive. (e.g., "That tax increase will hit families where it hurts.")
To hurt like hell: To be extremely painful.
Hurtling towards: Moving very quickly and often uncontrollably towards a specific point or outcome. (Metaphorical use, from the verb 'hurtle' which shares an etymological root)
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me: A proverb suggesting that physical harm is more significant than verbal abuse, though often used ironically today.
To rub salt in the wound: To make a bad situation even worse or more painful. (Uses a synonym for 'hurt' - 'pain')
To take a hit: To suffer a loss or setback. (Uses a synonym for 'hurt' - 'loss' or 'damage')
No pain, no gain: You have to work hard and endure discomfort to achieve results. (Uses a synonym for 'hurt' - 'pain')
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hurt from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
