verb
B1
Intermediate
devastate
DEHV-uh-stayt
Devastate (verb) means to destroy something on a large scale. Example: “The hurricane devastated coastal towns along the whole region.”
verb
1
To destroy something on a large scale.
"The hurricane devastated coastal towns along the whole region."
2
To leave someone deeply shocked and upset.
"The news of her father's death devastated the whole family."
How to use devastate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo wreck something completely, or to emotionally crush someone.
Common pairings
devastate a region
devastate a community
utterly devastated
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- devastates
- Past tense
- devastated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hurricane _____ coastal towns along the whole region.
Etymology
From Latin devastare ("to lay waste"), from de- + vastare ("to destroy"), related to "vast".
Related words
Rhymes for devastate
See all rhymes for devastate →Frequently asked questions
What does “devastate” mean?
The word “devastate” means to destroy something on a large scale. In plain terms, to wreck something completely, or to emotionally crush someone.
How do you pronounce “devastate”?
“Devastate” is pronounced DEHV-uh-stayt (/ˈdɛv.ə.steɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “devastate” in a sentence?
Here is “devastate” used in a sentence: “The hurricane devastated coastal towns along the whole region.”
What is another word for “devastate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “devastate” include decimate, destroy, raze and ruin.
What part of speech is “devastate”?
“Devastate” is a verb.
Where does the word “devastate” come from?
The word “devastate” comes from Latin. From Latin devastare ("to lay waste"), from de- + vastare ("to destroy"), related to "vast".
How many meanings does “devastate” have?
“Devastate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to destroy something on a large scale.
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