dilapidated

dilapidated — adjective

1. broken or falling apart because of age and neglect, with parts that are cracked,

1.形容詞B2
釋義

broken or falling apart because of age and neglect, with parts that are cracked, loose, or crumbling

例句

The old wooden barn behind Priya's house was so dilapidated that the roof had caved in.

predicative use: be + so dilapidated that...

A dilapidated fence ran along the edge of the farm, with several posts leaning sideways.

attributive use: dilapidated + noun

同義詞
  • run-down

    more frequent in everyday speech; can describe buildings, neighborhoods, or a person's appearance

  • ramshackle

    suggests a structure that looks unsteady or poorly built, about to collapse

  • decrepit

    emphasizes weakness from old age; can apply to people, unlike dilapidated

  • rickety

    suggests unsteadiness and loose parts, often of furniture

反義詞
  • well-maintained

    opposite of neglected; kept in good condition

  • sturdy

    strongly built and not likely to break or fall down

用法筆記

Only describes physical objects and structures, especially buildings, furniture, walls, and vehicles. Never used for people or animals — use 'frail', 'weak', or 'decrepit' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The old man looked dilapidated.
✅The old man looked frail.
💡Dilapidated describes buildings and objects, not people.
❌My phone is dilapidated because I dropped it.
✅My phone is badly damaged because I dropped it.
💡Dilapidated implies long-term decay from neglect, not sudden accidental damage.