ravage
RA-vihj
Ravage (verb) means to cause severe damage or destruction to something. Example: “The wildfire ravaged thousands of acres of forest.”
verb
1
To cause severe damage or destruction to something.
"The wildfire ravaged thousands of acres of forest."
"Years of neglect had ravaged the old mansion."
noun
1
Severe damage or destruction, usually used in the plural.
"The village never fully recovered from the ravages of the flood."
How to use ravage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo wreck or devastate something badly, or the destruction itself.
Common pairings
ravaged by fire
the ravages of time
ravage the land
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Word forms
- Plural
- ravages
- Third person singular
- ravages
- Past tense
- ravaged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The wildfire _____ thousands of acres of forest.
Etymology
From French ravage, from ravir ("to snatch away"), ultimately from Latin rapere ("to seize"), the same root behind "rapid" and "rapture."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for ravage
See all rhymes for ravage →Frequently asked questions
What does “ravage” mean?
The word “ravage” means to cause severe damage or destruction to something. In plain terms, to wreck or devastate something badly, or the destruction itself.
How do you pronounce “ravage”?
“Ravage” is pronounced RA-vihj (/ˈɹævɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ravage” in a sentence?
Here is “ravage” used in a sentence: “The wildfire ravaged thousands of acres of forest.”
What part of speech is “ravage”?
Depending on how it is used, “ravage” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “ravage” come from?
The word “ravage” comes from Latin. From French ravage, from ravir ("to snatch away"), ultimately from Latin rapere ("to seize"), the same root behind "rapid" and "rapture.".
How many meanings does “ravage” have?
“Ravage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cause severe damage or destruction to something.
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