Dictionary-enhanced word family
Word Forms of “Harm”
Injury or damage to a person's body or feelings. Something that hurts or damages.
Word Family of Harm
Some English words keep the same spelling as a noun and a verb. Context tells you which form is being used.
How to Use Each Word Form in a Sentence
- Smoking can cause serious harm to your health. B1
- The accident did not harm anyone, thankfully. A2
- The chemicals in the factory caused environmental harm to the local river. B1
Word Form Patterns for Harm
-ful
Adds **-ful** to form an adjective meaning full of that quality. Example: harm → harmful.
-ly
Adds **-ly** to make an adverb describing how an action happens. Example: harm → harmfully.
Origin and Word Formation of Harm
From Old English hearm, meaning 'injury' or 'insult'; related to Old Norse harmr.
Common Word Form Mistakes with Harm
Wrong: He was harming to the team.
Correct: He was harmful to the team.
The adjective form is 'harmful', not 'harming' in this context.
Frequently Asked Questions About Word Forms of Harm
What are the word forms of “harm”?
The confirmed forms are shown in the word family cards above. Missing parts of speech are hidden instead of filled with placeholder text.
What part of speech is “harm”?
“harm” is primarily a noun. Some forms above show how the same root works as other parts of speech.
Can “harm” be both a noun and a verb?
Yes. Some words keep the same spelling across parts of speech; the surrounding sentence shows the function.
Where does “harm” come from?
From Old English hearm, meaning 'injury' or 'insult'; related to Old Norse harmr.