deteriorate
gb/dɪtˈɪɹiɚˌeɪt/ us/dɪtˈɪɹiɚˌeɪt/
B2
Inglês
~ 7200
Aceções
0 aceções
Verbo
B2
event
1
to become worse over time
To slowly become worse in quality or condition over time.
Padrão de uso:
[something] deteriorates (over time)
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes say *"become deteriorate"* (e.g., *"His health became deteriorate"*). This is incorrect because *deteriorate* already includes the meaning of *become*; say *"His health deteriorated"* instead. Another mistake is using it too informally where *get worse* would sound more natural in casual conversation.
Sinónimos
decline (More general and slightly more common in everyday speech; can sound less serious depending on context.)
|
worsen (Very close in meaning; slightly simpler and more common in conversational English.)
Antónimos
improve (Opposite because it describes something becoming better instead of worse.)
|
strengthen (Opposite when talking about conditions or situations becoming more solid or better instead of weaker.)
Colocações
health deteriorates
|conditions deteriorate
|relationship deteriorates
|situation deteriorates
|deteriorate rapidly
|deteriorate over time
Temas
daily life
|health
|society
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Her eyesight began to deteriorate in her early forties.
- The political situation has deteriorated significantly over the past year.
- If we do nothing, the building will continue to deteriorate.
- Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the trade dispute.
- The quality of the service has deteriorated since the company changed owners.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- My grandmother’s health is starting to deteriorate.
- The road surface will deteriorate if it is not repaired.
- Their friendship deteriorated after the big argument.
- The weather quickly deteriorated in the afternoon.
- The company’s image deteriorated after the scandal.
Verbo
C1
action
2
to cause something to get worse
To make something become worse in quality or condition.
Padrão de uso:
[something] deteriorates [something]
Erro comum:
Learners often overuse the transitive form and say *"deteriorate the situation"* where native speakers more often say *"make the situation worse"* or simply *"the situation deteriorates"*. In many contexts, the intransitive form (*"X deteriorates"*) is more natural.
Sinónimos
damage (More common in everyday speech; often suggests physical harm, while *deteriorate* is more formal and gradual.)
|
degrade (Often used for quality, environment, or materials; can sound more technical or formal than *deteriorate*.)
Antónimos
improve (Opposite because it means to make something better, not worse.)
|
enhance (Opposite when talking about increasing the quality or value of something.)
Colocações
deteriorate someone’s health
|deteriorate the situation
|policies that deteriorate conditions
|factors that deteriorate performance
Temas
health
|environment
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Poor diet and lack of exercise can deteriorate your health over time.
- Constant exposure to sunlight will deteriorate the color of the fabric.
- Harsh cleaning chemicals may deteriorate the surface of the stone.
- Repeated delays will only deteriorate customer trust in the brand.
- Pollutants in the air gradually deteriorate the condition of old buildings.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Smoking can deteriorate your lungs.
- Strong rain can deteriorate the old roof.
- Bad working hours may deteriorate workers’ health.
- Salt on the road can deteriorate the car’s metal.
- Loud noise can deteriorate your hearing over many years.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
deteriorate
IPA
GB/dɪtˈɪɹiɚˌeɪt/
US/dɪtˈɪɹiɚˌeɪt/
Sílabas e acento
de - teri - or - ate (4 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (teri)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: deteriorate
- 3rd Person Singular: deteriorates
- Present Participle: deteriorating
- Past: deteriorated
Família de palavras
Forms
deteriorates
verb
deteriorating
verb
deteriorated
verb
Core family
deterioration
noun C1
Advanced or less common
deteriorative
adjective
Expressões
deteriorate into [something]
1/dɪtˈɪɹiɚˌeɪt ˈɪntu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
to change into a worse situation
To slowly change into a worse situation or form, usually something more serious or more unpleasant.
Exemplos
- The discussion quickly deteriorated into a shouting match.
- What began as a small protest deteriorated into violent clashes with the police.
- Their friendly debate deteriorated into personal attacks.