wreak
pronunciation
How to pronounce wreak in British English:
UK [ri:k]
How to pronounce wreak in American English:
US [rik]
-
- Verb:
- cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
Word Origin
- wreak (v.)
- Old English wrecan "avenge," originally "to drive, drive out, punish" (class V strong verb; past tense wræc, past participle wrecen), from Proto-Germanic *wrekan (cognates: Old Saxon wrekan, Old Norse reka, Old Frisian wreka, Middle Dutch wreken "to drive, push, compel, pursue, throw," Old High German rehhan, German rächen "to avenge," Gothic wrikan "to persecute"), from PIE root *wreg- "to push, shove, drive, track down" (see urge (v.)). Meaning "inflict or take vengeance," with on, is recorded from late 15c.; that of "inflict or cause (damage or destruction)" is attested from 1817. Compare wrack (v.). Related: Wreaked; wreaking.
Example
- 1. Hid vs xenon : lets wreak havoc on oncoming traffic !
- 2. But the broader damage the affair could wreak is vast .
- 3. In the meantime a powerful president hollande could wreak much damage on his country .
- 4. Legal and home-grown californian cannabis might displace the illegal stuff smuggled across the mexican border , reducing the profits of the trafficking cartels and the horrendous violence they wreak .
- 5. Because history tells us that banking is and always has been subject to occasional destructive " panics , " which can wreak havoc with the economy as a whole .