curse
gb/kˈɚs/ us/kˈɚs/
B1
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Say offensive or obscene words
To say bad or rude words when you are angry or upset.
Usage pattern:
to curse [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'curse' with 'cuss'. 'Cuss' is informal and mostly American; 'curse' is more general.
Synonyms
swear (Commonly used for speaking offensive or impolite words; often interchangeable.)
Antonyms
praise (Expressing approval or admiration instead of offensive language.)
Collocations
curse loudly
|curse under breath
|curse at someone
Themes
emotions
|communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He cursed loudly when he dropped his phone.
- She cursed under her breath as she walked away.
- The driver cursed at the car that cut him off.
Learner examples
- He cursed when he lost the game.
- She cursed at the bad driver.
- I heard him curse in the shop.
Verb
B2
action
2
Invoke supernatural harm on someone
To ask magic or a god to bring bad luck or harm to someone.
Usage pattern:
to curse [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this meaning with simply saying bad words; here it means using magic or supernatural power.
Synonyms
hex (Specifically refers to casting a spell for harm; more informal or folkloric.)
Antonyms
bless (To call upon divine favor instead of harm.)
Collocations
curse an enemy
|curse the land
|curse forever
Themes
supernatural
|beliefs
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The witch cursed the prince to live as a frog.
- They believed the old man had cursed their farm.
- She cursed the thief who stole her necklace.
Learner examples
- The witch cursed the king.
- He cursed the house with bad luck.
- They think she cursed the village.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Offensive word or phrase
A bad or rude word that people say when they are angry or upset.
Synonyms
swear word (Most common informal term for an offensive word.)
Antonyms
compliment (A polite expression showing approval instead of offense.)
Collocations
shout curses
|mutter curses
|string of curses
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He shouted curses at the referee.
- She muttered a curse as she left the room.
- The air was filled with curses and angry shouts.
Learner examples
- He said a curse when he was angry.
- She spoke a curse quietly.
- They shouted curses at each other.
Noun
B2
entity
4
Magical spell causing harm
Magic words that bring bad luck or harm to someone.
Synonyms
hex (A magical spell causing harm; more informal or folkloric.)
Antonyms
blessing (A magical or divine act giving good fortune instead of harm.)
Collocations
ancient curse
|break a curse
|lift a curse
Themes
supernatural
|beliefs
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The ancient curse was said to haunt the tomb.
- Only true love could break the curse.
- The hero's quest was to lift the curse from the kingdom.
Learner examples
- The old curse hurt the town.
- He tried to break the curse.
- They feared the witch's curse.
Noun
B2
entity
5
Source of lasting trouble or harm
Something that brings a lot of problems for a long time.
Synonyms
plague (Something that continually causes trouble; often metaphorical.)
Antonyms
blessing (Something that brings happiness instead of trouble.)
Collocations
curse of poverty
|be a curse to someone
Themes
problems
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Illiteracy is the curse of many rural areas.
- For some athletes, fame can be a curse.
- The disease became a curse for the entire community.
Learner examples
- Poverty is a curse for many people.
- Fame can be a curse.
- The war was a curse for the country.
Grammar
Dictionary form
curse
IPA
GB/kˈɚs/
US/kˈɚs/
Syllables & stress
curse (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (curse)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: curse
- Plural: curses
Verb
- Base: curse
- 3rd Person Singular: curses
- Present Participle: cursing
- Past: cursed
Word family
Forms
curses
noun
cursing
verb
cursed
verb
Expressions
a blessing and a curse
1/ə blˈɛsɪŋ ˈænd ə kˈɚs/
idiom
Has good and bad effects together
Something that is good in some ways but bad in other ways.
Examples
- Fame is both a blessing and a curse for many celebrities.
- Technology can be a blessing and a curse for society.
break the curse
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə kˈɚs/
fixed phrase
End magical or lasting harm
To stop a magic spell or long-lasting problem from causing more harm.
Examples
- The hero set out to break the curse on the castle.
- Scientists hope to break the curse of this deadly disease.
curse like a sailor
1/kˈɚs lˈaɪk ə sˈeɪlɚ/
idiom
informal
Use many bad words often and strongly
To say many rude words very often and strongly.
Examples
- He curses like a sailor when he's playing video games.
- Don't mind her—she curses like a sailor when she's stressed.
put a curse on [someone]
1/pˈʊt ə kˈɚs ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
Use magic to harm someone
To say magic words to make something bad happen to someone.
Examples
- The villagers believed the woman had put a curse on their crops.
- He claimed his rival had put a curse on him.
under a curse
1/ˈʌndɚ ə kˈɚs/
fixed phrase
Affected by magic or lasting harm
Being controlled by magic or suffering from a long-lasting problem.
Examples
- The town seemed to be under a curse after years of disaster.
- She felt her family was under a curse.