WREAK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does wreak mean? 

• WREAK (verb)
  The verb WREAK has 1 sense:

1. cause to happen or to occur as a consequence

  Familiarity information: WREAK used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WREAK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they wreak    ... he / she / it wreaks   
Past simple: wreaked   
Past participle: wreaked   
-ing form: wreaking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

bring; make for; play; work; wreak

Context example:

The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area

Hypernyms (to "wreak" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Verb group:

act; work (have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

It had gripped savagely hold of him and was about to wreak upon him some terrific hurt.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The overabundance of ROS in human neurons appeared to cause proteins along the microtubules to oxidize, wreaking havoc with the microtubule structure.

(Researchers develop “hibernation in a dish” to study how animals adapt to the cold, National Institutes of Health)

Pollen, the same airborne material that wreaks misery during certain seasons in the form of drippy noses and itchy eyes, apparently can have an influence on weather.

(Estimating how pollen particles in the atmosphere influence climate, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

New research aside, dentists have long known that gum disease can wreak havoc on the mouth.

(New Link Found between Alzheimer's & Gum Disease Bacteria, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Though just a few light-years across, it showcases the havoc that stars can wreak when they form within an interstellar cloud.

(Stellar Nursery Blooms into View, ESO)

But that men should wreak their anger on others by the bruising of the flesh and the letting of blood was something strangely and fearfully new to me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A small portion of material gets shot back out in powerful jets of hot gas, called plasma, that can wreak havoc on their surroundings.

(NuSTAR Probes Black Hole Jet Mystery, NASA)

I wished to see him again, that I might wreak the utmost extent of abhorrence on his head and avenge the deaths of William and Justine.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

And in open court-room, before all men, Jim Hall had proclaimed that the day would come when he would wreak vengeance on the Judge that sentenced him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)