Destroyed Destroy Destroying Dɪˈstrɔɪ Building Evidence Verb Bre

• the building was completely destroyed by fire.
• they've destroyed all the evidence.
• heat gradually destroys vitamin c.
• you have destroyed my hopes of happiness.

destroy

1. to damage something so badly that it no longer exists, works, etc.
• The building was completely destroyed by fire.
• They've destroyed all the evidence.
• Heat gradually destroys vitamin C.
• You have destroyed my hopes of happiness.
• Failure was slowly destroying him (= making him less and less confident and happy).
2. to kill an animal deliberately, usually because it is sick or not wanted
• The injured horse had to be destroyed.

Extra Examples

• Drugs can destroy the health and lives of young people.
• He physically destroyed the computer by smashing it to pieces.
• Our greed may ultimately destroy the planet.
• She seemed intent on destroying everything they had built up together.
• That guy just single-handedly destroyed everything we’ve worked for.
• The bomb hit, instantly destroying the building.
• The building was destroyed by fire last year.
• The earthquake literally destroyed their villages.
• The horse broke a leg and had to be destroyed.
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.
• Their lives have been virtually destroyed by this tragedy.
• These weapons are capable of destroying the entire planet.
• This disease threatens to destroy many of our native trees.
• a new attempt to destroy enemy positions
• Failure was slowly destroying him.
• The brigade’s mission was to destroy the enemy.
• They’ve destroyed all the evidence.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they destroy
• he / she / it destroys
• past simple destroyed
• past participle destroyed
• -ing form destroying

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French destruire, based on Latin destruere, from de- (expressing reversal) + struere ‘build’.