injure - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
injure Word Meanings
- to cause harm or damage to someone or something
- to wound physically
- to hurt someone's feelings or reputation
injure Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
injure Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈɪn.dʒə/
US
/ˈɪn.dʒɚ/
injure Word Etymology
in- = not + jurare = to swear; derived from Latin, Old French to English. Picture someone 'swearing' not to harm others but ends up doing the opposite, creating a conflict.
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
Hands grab the bicycle handle, I push off, and the ground slips away under me. My ankle twists, a sharp sting shoots up my leg, and I wince. I shift my weight, lower my center, and slow the pace, trying not to make it worse. In that quick jolt, injure feels real—the cost of effort meeting a misstep.
Real Context
Injury is a versatile verb meaning to cause harm or damage to someone or something. It can describe physical harm, as when you trip and injure your knee, or damage to objects, such as a tool that injures its usefulness. It also covers emotional or reputational harm, as in a remark that injures someone's feelings or injures their reputation. Note that injure is transitive and usually implies some negative consequence. For non-physical harms, speakers often prefer 'hurt' in everyday speech, while 'injure' appears in more formal writing, medical reports, or legal contexts. The noun form is 'injury' and is commonly used after phrases like 'recover from an injury.'
Usage Reminders
- • Use injure with a direct object.
- • Distinguish physical harm (injure) from emotional harm (hurt).
- • Be injured vs injure someone — passive vs active meaning.
- • Injury is the common noun form.
- • In legal/medical writing, prioritize precise terms like 'injure' and 'injury'.
Common Misconceptions
- Injure only means physical harm, not emotional harm.
- Hurt and injure are always interchangeable.
- The noun 'injury' cannot refer to emotional damage.
- You can injure yourself only when you are physically hurt.
- Passive form is not used with 'injure'.
Thinking Differences
Learners often rely on 'hurt' for emotional harm, and may assume 'injure' fits casual use; English makes a clear distinction in formal health or legal contexts where 'injure' is more appropriate.
Learning Tips
- Compare injure with hurt for emotions; use injure for physical harm or formal contexts; remember 'be injured' for passive voice.
- Link 'injury' to medical/legal writing.
- Practice collocations: injure yourself, injure someone’s feelings, injure the reputation (rare).
- Avoid mixing with 'damage' when the object is living; use 'damage' for non-living items.
- Watch for passive voice: be injured vs injure someone; rear examples.
- Use mnemonics: 'in- + jur(e) = not sworn? - keep to formal harm.'
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'injure'?
A.To harm
B.To help
C.To plant
D.To build
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'injure' correctly?
A.She injured the flowers in the garden.
B.He injured to protect himself.
C.They injured a beautiful painting.
D.He healed the injured bird.
Step 3: Similar Words
What is a synonym for 'injure'?
A.Heal
B.Protect
C.Grow
D.Damage
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is an antonym for 'injure'?
A.Help
B.Repair
C.Heal
D.Destroy
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life scenario would someone likely be injured?
A.Playing a sport
B.Cooking a meal
C.Reading a book
D.Watering plants
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