1
a
: an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (such as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues
b
: a cut or breach in a plant usually due to an external agent
2
: a mental or emotional hurt or blow
3
: something resembling a wound in appearance or effect
especially
: a rift in or blow to a political body or social group
wounded; wounding; wounds
: to cause a wound to or in
: to inflict a wound
Examples of wound in a Sentence
Noun
She suffered a knife wound to her thigh.
Her mother's scorn left a wound that never healed.
Verb
Four people were seriously wounded in the explosion.
The soldier's leg was wounded by a grenade.
Losing the match wounded his pride.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Another man, a 35-year-old, showed up at Temple Hospital's Episcopal Campus with a gunshot wound to his head, police said.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
All four of the people at the bar — Reyna, Olivares, and the other man and woman who were wounded — went outside where Cashaw’s girlfriend was screaming for help.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wound
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Noun
The woman was found with three gunshot wounds to her chest, while the man was shot in the head, police said.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Another man, a 35-year-old, showed up at Temple Hospital's Episcopal Campus with a gunshot wound to his head, police said.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
The attacks killed three paramedics and wounded six others, the ministry said.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
All four of the people at the bar — Reyna, Olivares, and the other man and woman who were wounded — went outside where Cashaw’s girlfriend was screaming for help.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wound
Cite this Entry
“Wound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wound. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wound
1 of 3 noun1
: an injury involving cutting or breaking of bodily tissue (as by violence, accident, or surgery)
2
: an injury to a person's feelings
wound
2 of 3 verb1
: to hurt by cutting or breaking bodily tissue
the broken glass wounded several people
2
: to hurt the feelings or pride of
his remark wounded her
Medical Definition
wound
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a physical injury to the body consisting of a laceration or breaking of the skin or mucous membrane often with damage to underlying tissue
has a deep festering knife wound across the palm
a gunshot wound
b
: an opening made in the skin or a membrane of the body incidental to a surgical operation or procedure
infection of a surgical wound
2
: a mental or emotional hurt or blow
emotional wounds of childhood
wound
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to cause a wound to or in
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