damn
DAM
Damn (interjection) means used to express anger, frustration, or surprise. Example: “Damn, I forgot my keys again.”
interjection
1
Used to express anger, frustration, or surprise.
"Damn, I forgot my keys again."
"Damn! That was close."
"Damn, the shop has already closed and I really needed milk."
adverb
1
Used to intensify a statement, similar to "very" or "extremely."
"That's a damn good idea."
"She is a damn fine cook, and everyone at the table said so."
"It was a damn long walk back to the car."
verb
1
To condemn or criticize harshly.
"Critics damned the film for its weak script."
"The newspaper damned the council for ignoring the problem of broken streetlights."
"Reviewers damned the restaurant for its slow service and cold food."
How to use damn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mild swear word used for emphasis, frustration, or to condemn something strongly.
When to use it
Considered a mild profanity — common in casual speech but best avoided in formal writing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
damn good
damn it
not worth a damn
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Word forms
- Plural
- damns
- Third person singular
- damns
- Past tense
- damned
- Archaic forms
- damnest, damnedst, damneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, I forgot my keys again.
Etymology
From Old French damner, from Latin damnare ("to condemn, to inflict loss upon").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “damn” mean?
The word “damn” means used to express anger, frustration, or surprise. In plain terms, a mild swear word used for emphasis, frustration, or to condemn something strongly.
How do you pronounce “damn”?
“Damn” is pronounced DAM (/ˈdæm/ in IPA).
How do you use “damn” in a sentence?
Here is “damn” used in a sentence: “Damn, I forgot my keys again.”
What part of speech is “damn”?
Depending on how it is used, “damn” can be an interjection, an adverb and a verb.
Where does the word “damn” come from?
The word “damn” comes from Latin. From Old French damner, from Latin damnare ("to condemn, to inflict loss upon").
Is “damn” a common word?
“Damn” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “damn” have?
“Damn” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to express anger, frustration, or surprise.
Is 'damn' a bad word?
Damn is a mild swear word. It was once considered strongly offensive because of its religious meaning, but today most people regard it as fairly gentle, far milder than stronger profanity. It is fine in casual speech among friends, though best avoided in formal writing or very polite company.
What is the difference between 'damn' and 'darn'?
Darn is a polite, softened substitute for damn, created so people could express frustration without swearing. The two mean the same thing as exclamations, but damn is the original mild profanity while darn is a family-friendly stand-in you can use freely in almost any setting.
Is 'damn' formal or informal?
Damn is informal. As an exclamation of anger, frustration, or surprise, it belongs to casual, spoken English and relaxed writing. You would not use it in a business report, academic essay, or polite formal letter, where a phrase like 'how frustrating' would be more appropriate.
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