Hurt Meaning
Hurt Definition & Usage
To cause physical pain or injury to oneself or another.
Examples
- "I hurt my ankle while running yesterday."
- "She was hurt in the car accident, but fortunately, it wasn’t serious."
- "Be careful with that knife, or you'll hurt yourself."
- "The sharp stone hurt his feet as he walked barefoot across the beach."
- "He hurt his back lifting the heavy box."
To cause emotional pain or distress to someone.
Examples
- "Her words really hurt my feelings."
- "It hurts me to see you so upset."
- "He was hurt by her lack of concern after the argument."
- "I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I think you misunderstood me."
- "The rejection letter really hurt his confidence."
To cause damage or harm to something, especially in a way that affects its integrity or function.
Examples
- "The storm hurt the crops by uprooting many plants."
- "If you don’t handle the equipment properly, it could hurt the machinery."
- "The economy has been hurt by the recent rise in inflation."
- "The wildfire hurt the local wildlife habitat severely."
- "Excessive use of plastic has hurt the environment."
Cultural Context
The word 'hurt' has deep roots in both physical and emotional contexts. Originally from Old English, it has maintained its core meaning of causing pain or damage over centuries. The dual application in physical and emotional realms is prevalent in modern English usage, with 'hurt' often becoming a key word in discussions of personal relationships, societal impact, and healthcare.
The Silent Injury
Story
The Silent Injury
On a warm, breezy afternoon, Sarah found herself walking barefoot along the rocky beach, enjoying the peace after a hectic week at work. Suddenly, her foot hit a sharp stone, and she gasped as pain shot up her leg. She limped to a nearby bench, clutching her ankle in pain. As she sat down, she couldn’t help but reflect on the emotional pain she had been carrying for months. Her recent breakup had left deep scars that were as painful as the physical injury she was now dealing with. As Sarah sat there, trying to manage both the physical hurt and the emotional turmoil, a small child approached. 'Are you okay?' he asked, concern written on his innocent face. Sarah smiled weakly and nodded, despite the tears welling up in her eyes. The child’s words had a small but significant impact—they didn’t heal the injury, but they certainly helped her feel less alone. A few days later, as Sarah recovered, she realized how much emotional pain she had been carrying, and how it had hurt her ability to move forward in life. The pain from the breakup wasn’t physical, but it had been just as debilitating. The injury to her ankle healed quickly, but the emotional hurt took much longer to overcome. However, with time, she started to learn how to heal both physically and emotionally, finding strength in the process of letting go of the past.
