hurts - Master This Word
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hurts Word Meanings
- to cause pain or injury
- to feel pain
- to be emotionally distressed
hurts Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
hurts Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/hɜːt/
US
/hɜrt/
hurts Word Etymology
Root decomposition: hurt = 'hurt', meaning to injure or cause pain. Historical origin: Old English hiertan → Middle English herten → Modern English hurt. Memory image: Imagine stepping on a sharp object, wincing in pain – that's the feeling of being 'hurt'.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I reach to move a box on a crowded shelf, my shoulder shifting as I lean in. The box slips and I pull back hard, a sharp sting racing up my arm. I hold the arm and adjust my stance, counting breaths to push through the ache. That small hurt sticks with me, shaping how I act the next time I reach for something.
Real Context
Hurt is a versatile English word with three core senses: to cause pain or injury; to feel pain; and to be emotionally distressed. As a verb, it takes a direct object, as in you hurt your finger or you hurt someone’s feelings. As an adjective, hurt describes a state of pain or emotion, as in a hurt knee or a hurtful remark, though more natural alternatives include injured for physical injuries or upset for emotions. In everyday speech, hurt often conveys immediate sensation or wound, and it appears in common phrases like it hurts to think about it. Learn the subtle differences in time, transitivity, and collocation to avoid awkward usage.
Usage Reminders
- Hurt as a verb takes a direct object: you hurt your knee.
- It can mean to cause pain or to feel pain: I hurt when I run.
- It is also used emotionally: hurt feelings, a hurtful remark.
- It hurts to think about it often expresses emotional pain.
- Do not mix with harm or injure in contexts that specify the target or severity.
- Remember its adjective use is limited to states of pain or feeling hurt.
Common Misconceptions
- Hurt = harm; they are not always interchangeable
- It hurts is about physical pain only
- Hurt as an adjective is used for all types of pain
- Mixing up hurt with injure when the target is a person or thing
- Using hurt for long-term or chronic pain is uncommon
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker: hurt spans physical pain, emotional pain, and the sense of causing pain; learners often mix it with harm or injure, or overuse it for long-term pain.
Learning Tips
- memorize the three core senses (cause pain, feel pain, emotional hurt)
- practice with body parts for physical pain
- contrast hurt with injure and harm in context
- use it in common phrases like It hurts and I am hurt
- note adjective use is for states, not events
- listen for collocations with pain and feelings
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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