damn

UK: /ˈdæm/ US: /dæm/ ,(dam)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

damn /dæm/   v. 

[ ~ + obj]
1. to condemn as a failure:
   The critics damned the new play.
2. to ruin:
   damned by his gambling habit.
3. Religion to condemn to eternal punishment or to hell;
   doom.

interj. 

4. (used to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.):
   "Damn!'' he swore as he stumbled into the coffee table.

n. [count;
singular;
used with negative words or phrases, or in questions]

5. something worthless or of little or no value:
   His promise is not worth a damn.

adj. [before a noun]

6. damned (defs. 2, 3).:
   I think you're a damn fool.

adv. 

7. damned:
   You know damn well I wasn't there.

Idioms

8. Idioms damn with faint praise, to praise in such a way that the result is to condemn:
   The letter of recommendation said, "She does her work as well as can be expected,'' thus damning her with faint praise.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

damn  (dam), v.t. 

1. to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal.
2. to condemn as a failure:
   to damn a play.
3. to bring condemnation upon;
   ruin.
4. Religion to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell.
5. to swear at or curse, using the word "damn'':
   Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

v.i. 

6. to use the word "damn'';
   swear.
7. Idioms damn with faint praise, to praise so moderately as, in effect, to condemn:
   The critic damned the opera with faint praise when he termed the production adequate.

interj. 

8. (used as an expletive to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.)

n. 

9. the utterance of "damn'' in swearing or for emphasis.
10. something of negligible value:
    not worth a damn.
11. Idioms, Informal Terms give a damn, [Informal.] to care;
    be concerned;
    consider as important:
    You shouldn't give a damn about their opinions.
    Also, give a darn. 

adj. 

12. damned (defs. 2, 3).

adv. 

13. damned.
14. Informal Terms, Idioms damn well, See damned (def. 7).

• Latin damnāre to condemn, derivative of damnum damage, fine, harm
• Old French dam(p)ner
• Middle English dam(p)nen 1250–1300

damn′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. berate, censure, denounce, disparage, blast.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

damn / dæm/ interjection

1. an exclamation of annoyance (often in exclamatory phrases such as damn it!, damn you!, etc)
2. an exclamation of surprise or pleasure (esp in the exclamatory phrase damn me!)

adjective

1. (prenominal) deserving damnation; detestable

adverb , adjective (prenominal)

1. (intensifier): damn fool, a damn good pianist

adverb

1. damn all ⇒ absolutely nothing

verb (mainly tr)

1. to condemn as bad, worthless, etc
2. to curse
3. to condemn to eternal damnation
4. (often passive) to doom to ruin; cause to fail: the venture was damned from the start
5. (also intr) to prove (someone) guilty: damning evidence
6. damn with faint praise ⇒ to praise so unenthusiastically that the effect is condemnation

noun

1. something of negligible value; jot (esp in the phrase not worth a damn)
2. not give a damn ⇒ to be unconcerned; not care

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French dampner, from Latin damnāre to injure, condemn, from damnum loss, injury, penalty