spoil Definition and Meaning in English (spoil definition)

verb
Synonyms:ruinmarimpair
Quick Answer • Definition

Spoil definition: To damage or destroy the quality, value, or effectiveness of something, rendering it less useful or enjoyable.

Definitions of Spoil

  1. 1verb

    To damage or destroy the quality, value, or effectiveness of something, rendering it less useful or enjoyable.

  2. 2verb

    To harm the character or development of a child by being excessively lenient, indulgent, or by giving them too much.

  3. 3verb

    (Of food or other perishable items) to become unfit for consumption or use due to decay, age, or improper storage.

Example Sentences

casual

“The heavy rain might spoil our outdoor picnic plans for the afternoon.”

general

“Parents should be careful not to spoil their children with too many toys and gifts.”

general

“If you leave the fresh milk out of the refrigerator, it will spoil quickly in the heat.”

Inflected Word Forms

past tensespoiled
past participlespoiled
present participlespoiling
pluralspoils
agent nounspoiler

Phrases & Idiomatic Expressions

spoil the surpriseexpression

To reveal a secret or planned event prematurely, ruining the element of unexpectedness.

spoil for a fightidiom

To be eager or looking for an argument or physical confrontation.

too many cooks spoil the brothidiom

A situation where too many people are involved in a task, leading to a poor outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions: Spoil in English

What is the meaning of Spoil in English?▼
Spoil definition: To damage or destroy the quality, value, or effectiveness of something, rendering it less useful or enjoyable.
How do you translate 'Spoil' to English?▼
'Spoil' translates to 'spoil' in English. Spoil definition: To damage or destroy the quality, value, or effectiveness of something, rendering it less useful or enjoyable.
How do you pronounce 'Spoil' and 'spoil'?▼
Listen to clear English audio pronunciation of 'Spoil' and native English audio speech for 'spoil' with bilingual sentence examples on DictBridge.

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