wreck
REHK
Wreck (noun) means the remains of a vehicle, ship, or structure that has been destroyed or badly damaged. Example: “Rusty wrecks lay scattered along the beach after the long winter.”
noun
1
The remains of a vehicle, ship, or structure that has been destroyed or badly damaged.
"Rusty wrecks lay scattered along the beach after the long winter."
"Divers explored the wreck of a ship that sank two centuries ago."
"The crash left the car a total wreck."
2
Informal: a person who is in a very poor physical or emotional state.
"He's a nervous wreck before every dentist appointment."
"I was a wreck after working the long night shift."
"After the exam week she felt like a complete wreck."
verb
1
To destroy or badly damage something.
"One careless remark could wreck the entire surprise party."
"The storm wrecked several boats in the harbour."
"He wrecked his chances of promotion by missing the deadline."
How to use wreck
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething destroyed, or the act of destroying it — a crashed ship or car, or ruining a plan.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a shipwreck
wreck a plan
a nervous wreck
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wreck.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wrecks
- Third person singular
- wrecks
- Past tense
- wrecked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rusty _____ lay scattered along the beach after the long winter.
Etymology
From Old Norse *wrek, related to Old English wrecan ("to drive"), the same root that gave us "wreak".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wreck
See all rhymes for wreck →Frequently asked questions
What does “wreck” mean?
The word “wreck” means the remains of a vehicle, ship, or structure that has been destroyed or badly damaged. In plain terms, something destroyed, or the act of destroying it — a crashed ship or car, or ruining a plan.
How do you pronounce “wreck”?
“Wreck” is pronounced REHK (/ˈɹɛk/ in IPA).
How do you use “wreck” in a sentence?
Here is “wreck” used in a sentence: “Divers explored the wreck of a ship that sank two centuries ago.”
What is another word for “wreck”?
Words with a similar meaning to “wreck” include crash and ruins.
What is the opposite of “wreck”?
The opposite of “wreck” — its antonyms — are build, construct, make and produce.
What part of speech is “wreck”?
Depending on how it is used, “wreck” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “wreck” come from?
The word “wreck” comes from Old English. From Old Norse *wrek, related to Old English wrecan ("to drive"), the same root that gave us "wreak".
Is “wreck” a common word?
“Wreck” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between wreck and ruin?
As verbs both mean to destroy, but "wreck" suggests sudden, violent damage such as a crash, while "ruin" can be gradual and often applies to reputations, plans, or finances. A storm can wreck a ship; a scandal can ruin a career.
What is the difference between wreck and wreak?
"Wreck" means to destroy or badly damage something, or the remains of something destroyed. "Wreak" is a different verb meaning to cause or inflict, most often in "wreak havoc"; the two are commonly confused but are not interchangeable.
What is the difference between a wreck and a shipwreck?
A "wreck" is the general term for the remains of any destroyed vehicle, ship, or structure, while a "shipwreck" refers specifically to a wrecked ship or the event of one being destroyed at sea. Every shipwreck is a wreck, but a wreck can also be a car or a building.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include wreck:
