verb · neutral
spoil
/spɔɪl/SPOIL
to make food go bad (become inedible) or to ruin something (a plan, behaviour)
Examples
“If you leave milk out, it will spoil quickly.”
“Don't spoil the surprise by telling her.”
“Leftover food can spoil if not refrigerated.”
Band 8 sentence
“Because the caterer failed to keep the food refrigerated, several dishes spoiled before the event started.”
Collocations
- spoil quickly
- spoil the surprise
- spoil the food
Word family
Common mistakes
The food spoiled because I didn't put to fridge.→The food spoiled because I didn't put it in the fridge.
Milk will spoil in two days if you leave it outside, isn't it?→Milk will spoil in two days if you leave it outside, won't it?
The cake was spoiled by the child.→The cake was ruined by the child / The child spoiled the cake.
Say it for a higher band
5go bad→6rot→7+spoil
Synonyms
go bad
ruin
Easily confused
go bad
“If you leave the fruit in the heat it will go bad quickly.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Food & Cooking
Learn it with its set