spoil

verbB1 · Intermediate

To damage something or give too much to a child.

Meanings of «spoil»

1 · verb

to damage or ruin something, making it less good

Rain will spoil our picnic if it starts soon.

2 · verb

to give a child too much of what they want

Grandparents often spoil their grandchildren with sweets and gifts.

Similar: pamper indulgeoverindulge

Translation

Translations into 17 languages, audio and every meaning of «spoil» — in the WordStudy app.

«spoil» in 17 languages

AR العربية

AZ Azərbaycan

DE Deutsch

ES Español

···

FR Français

HI हिन्दी

ID Indonesia

JA 日本語

KO 한국어

PT Português

RO Română

RU Русский

TH ไทย

TR Türkçe

UK Українська

UZ O‘zbek

VI Tiếng Việt

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The difference between similar words

to slowly break down and go bad

decayslowly get damaged, like teeth or buildingsSugar can make your teeth decay.

rotgo soft and smelly, like food or woodThe apples will rot if you leave them.

decomposebreak down naturally; a science wordDead leaves decompose and feed the soil.

spoilfood goes bad and cannot be eatenMilk will spoil quickly in the sun.

damage something so it is no longer good

destroybreak something completely so it is goneThe fire destroyed the whole building.

ruindamage so badly it is useless or no goodThe flood ruined all our furniture.

spoilmake something less good or less funThe rain spoiled our picnic.

demolishpull down a building on purposeThey will demolish the old school next year.

be too kind to someone

pampergive someone comfort and luxury to please themShe pampered herself with a day at the spa.

indulgelet someone have or do what they wantHe indulges his grandchildren with sweets.

spoilgive a child too much, so they expect it alwaysGrandparents often spoil their grandchildren.

Word family

spoil B1 · verbspoiled B1 · adjectivespoiler C1 · noununspoiled B2 · adjective

Verb forms

Base form (V1)spoil

Past simple (V2)spoiled / spoilt

Past participle (V3)spoiled / spoilt

Base form (V1)
Too much rain can spoil the party.

Past simple (V2)
The rain spoiled our picnic yesterday.

Past participle (V3)
She has spoiled her son with too many gifts.

Verbs that change the same way

learn burn smell lean leap spill spell dream dwell kneel

All irregular verbs →

← split up spoiled →