hurt

hurtverb

To hurt is to cause or feel pain, in the body or in the feelings, or to cause harm.

1. injurecause pain or an injury to someone, or to a part of your body

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • He hurt his back lifting a heavy box. V + obj
   • Be careful not to hurt yourself. V + obj
   • Was anyone hurt in the accident? V + obj (passive)
   • These shoes hurt my feet. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun hurt your back, hurt your leg, hurt yourself

   phrase be badly hurt, be seriously hurt, get hurt

   Synonyms injure

2. feel paingive you a feeling of pain

   intransitive [I]

   • My feet hurt.
   • Does it hurt when I press here?
   • It hurts to walk on this leg.
   • Ouch, that hurt!

   Collocations

   phrase it hurts, my head hurts, it hurts to

   Synonyms ache

3. upsetmake someone feel unhappy or upset

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Her words really hurt him. V + obj
   • I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. V + obj
   • It hurts me when you don't call. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun hurt someone's feelings

   adverb + verb deeply hurt, really hurt

   verb + adverb hurt deeply

   Synonyms upset

4. harmhave a bad effect on something

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + to-infinitive [V + to-inf]

   • The bad weather has hurt sales this year. V + obj
   • A little rain won't hurt the garden. V + obj
   • It doesn't hurt to ask. V + to-inf (it does no harm)

   Collocations

   verb + noun hurt business, hurt sales, hurt someone's chances

   phrase it doesn't hurt to, it won't hurt to

   Synonyms harm; damage