damn

[ dam ]

/ dæm /

verb (used with object)

to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal.

to condemn as a failure: to damn a play.

to bring condemnation upon; ruin.

to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell.

to swear at or curse, using the word “damn”: Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

verb (used without object)

to use the word “damn”; swear.

interjection

(used as an expletive to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.)

noun

the utterance of “damn” in swearing or for emphasis.

something of negligible value: not worth a damn.

adjective

damned(defs 2, 3).

adverb

damned.

Idioms for damn

damn well, Informal. damned(def 7).

damn with faint praise, to praise so moderately as, in effect, to condemn: The critic damned the opera with faint praise when he termed the production adequate.

give a damn, Informal. to care; be concerned; consider as important: You shouldn't give a damn about their opinions. Also give a darn.

Origin of damn

1250–1300; Middle English dam(p)nen < Old French dam(p)ner < Latin damnāre to condemn, derivative of damnum damage, fine, harm

SYNONYMS FOR damn

2 berate, censure, denounce, disparage, blast.

OTHER WORDS FROM damn

damn·er, noun pre·damn, verb (used with object)

Words nearby damn

damien, damietta, daminozide, dammar, dammit, damn, damn the torpedoes, damn well, damn with faint praise, damnable, damnably

British Dictionary definitions for give a damn

damn

/ (dæm) /

interjection

slang an exclamation of annoyance (often in exclamatory phrases such as damn it! damn you! etc)

informal an exclamation of surprise or pleasure (esp in the exclamatory phrase damn me!)

adjective

(prenominal) slang deserving damnation; detestable

adverb, adjective (prenominal)

slang (intensifier) damn fool; a damn good pianist

adverb

damn all slang absolutely nothing

verb (mainly tr)

to condemn as bad, worthless, etc

to curse

to condemn to eternal damnation

(often passive) to doom to ruin; cause to fail the venture was damned from the start

(also intr) to prove (someone) guilty damning evidence

to swear (at) using the word damn

as near as damn it British informal as near as possible; very near

damn with faint praise to praise so unenthusiastically that the effect is condemnation

noun

slang something of negligible value; jot (esp in the phrase not worth a damn)

not give a damn informal to be unconcerned; not care

Word Origin for damn

C13: from Old French dampner, from Latin damnāre to injure, condemn, from damnum loss, injury, penalty

Idioms and Phrases with give a damn (1 of 2)

give a damn

see not give a damn.

Idioms and Phrases with give a damn (2 of 2)

damn

In addition to the idioms beginning with damn

damned if I do, damned if I don't
damn well
damn with faint praise

also see:

do one's damnedest
give a damn
not worth a dime (tinker's damn)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

damn

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

interjection

noun

adjective

adverb

Idioms for damn

Origin of damn

SYNONYMS FOR damn

OTHER WORDS FROM damn

Words nearby damn

British Dictionary definitions for give a damn

interjection

adjective

adverb, adjective (prenominal)

adverb

verb (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for damn

Idioms and Phrases with give a damn (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with give a damn (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

damn

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

interjection

noun

adjective

adverb

Idioms for damn

Origin of damn

SYNONYMS FOR damn

OTHER WORDS FROM damn

Words nearby damn

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for give a damn

interjection

adjective

adverb, adjective (prenominal)

adverb

verb (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for damn

Idioms and Phrases with give a damn (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with give a damn (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for give a damn