noun
Uncommon
bane
bayn
Bane (noun) means a person or thing that causes constant trouble or ruin. Example: “Traffic on the ring road is the bane of my daily commute.”
noun
1
A person or thing that causes constant trouble or ruin.
"Traffic on the ring road is the bane of my daily commute."
"His younger brother had always been the bane of his existence."
"Beside him lies the bane of his life, dead from knife-wounds."
— Seamus Heaney, Beowulf (1999)
How to use bane
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething or someone that repeatedly causes trouble, harm, or misery.
Common mistake
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase "the bane of [someone's] life/existence" rather than standing alone.
Common pairings
the bane of my life
bane of his existence
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Word forms
- Plural
- banes
- Third person singular
- banes
- Past tense
- baned
- Archaic forms
- banest, banedst, baneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Traffic on the ring road is the _____ of my daily commute.
Etymology
From Old English bana, meaning a killer or cause of death, from a Germanic root tied to slaying — the word has softened over time from "someone's literal killer" to "someone's biggest annoyance."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for bane
See all rhymes for bane →Frequently asked questions
What does “bane” mean?
The word “bane” means a person or thing that causes constant trouble or ruin. In plain terms, something or someone that repeatedly causes trouble, harm, or misery.
How do you pronounce “bane”?
“Bane” is pronounced bayn (/beɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “bane” in a sentence?
Here is “bane” used in a sentence: “Traffic on the ring road is the bane of my daily commute.”
What part of speech is “bane”?
“Bane” is a noun.
Where does the word “bane” come from?
The word “bane” comes from Old English. From Old English bana, meaning a killer or cause of death, from a Germanic root tied to slaying — the word has softened over time from "someone's literal killer" to "someone's biggest annoyance.".
Is “bane” a common word?
“Bane” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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