[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/spoilt/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / spoilt

# spoilt

adjective (spoilt — US usually spoiled); verb form: past tense and past participle of «spoil» (spoil, spoils, spoilt/spoiled, spoiling)

«spoilt» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A spoilt child has been given everything they want, so they behave badly when they do not get their way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#m1)
2. Spoilt food has gone bad and is not safe to eat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#m2)
3. Spoilt means damaged or ruined: a spoilt picture, a spoilt day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#m3)
4. A spoilt vote or ballot paper is filled in wrongly, so it is not counted (UK). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#m4)
5. «Spoilt for choice» means there are so many good choices that it is hard to pick one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#m5)

### In the lessons

In stories a spoilt prince or child learns a lesson; in everyday life spoilt food must be thrown away (safety). In maths problems, spoilt items are taken away from the total. Phrases: a spoilt brat, spoilt rotten, spoilt for choice, spoilt milk.

### Examples

- The spoilt boy screamed when he didn't get the biggest present. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x1)
- The milk was spoilt, so we poured it away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x2)
- The rain spoilt our picnic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x3)
- Gran spoils the grandchildren rotten. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x4)
- At the sweet shop we were spoilt for choice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x5)
- Of 40 apples, 6 were spoilt, so 34 were good. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x6)
- His drawing was spoilt by a big ink blot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x7)
- "But your bow is spoilt," said the old poet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/#x8)

### Note

«Spoilt» is the usual UK, Irish, Australian and NZ form; Americans usually say «spoiled». «Spoilt brat» is rude. In maths, spoilt things are usually subtracted: 40 − 6 = 34 good ones. Do not mix up with «spilt» (past of spill).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «spoilt» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spoilt/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«spoilt» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spoilt.html) on Mova free.