harm

The word “harm” means physical injury or damage. In plain terms, damage or injury, whether physical, emotional, or to something abstract like a reputation.

“Harm” is pronounced hahm (/hɑɹm/ in IPA).

Here is “harm” used in a sentence: “The accident left him with no lasting harm.”

The opposite of “harm” — its antonyms — are heal and repair.

Depending on how it is used, “harm” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “harm” comes from Old English. From Old English hearm, meaning harm, shame, or pain, tracing back to a shared Germanic root.

“Harm” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Harm” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: physical injury or damage.

Harm and damage overlap, but harm is most often used for injury to living things, including physical hurt and, more broadly, emotional or moral injury. Damage usually applies to objects, property, or systems, as in 'storm damage.' You harm a person; you damage a car.

Harm means injury or damage, usually to a person or living thing. Examples include 'the fall caused no lasting harm,' 'these chemicals can harm your skin,' or a label warning that a product may 'cause harm if swallowed.' It covers physical hurt and, more widely, any serious ill effect.

The opposite of harm is benefit, help, or good. Where harm causes injury or damage, its opposites improve or protect. The familiar phrase 'do no harm' captures the contrast, expressing a duty to help, or at least to avoid injury, rather than making a situation worse.