Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having fallen into a state of disrepair or deterioration, as through neglect; broken-down and shabby.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Decayed; fallen into partial ruin; injured by bad usage or neglect.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Past participle of dilapidate
  • adjective Having fallen into a state of disrepair or deterioration, especially through neglect

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective in deplorable condition

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word dilapidated.

Examples

  • She was patching a pair of his trousers, while his lean body was distributed over two chairs, his feet dangling in dilapidated carpet-slippers over the edge of the second chair.

    Chapter 3 2010

  • But he takes offense to the suggestion he has purposefully left his property, including an old garage that he leases for use as a car shop, in dilapidated condition.

    Edwards scared of 'rabid Republican' neighbor 2007

  • She was patching a pair of his trousers, while his lean body was distributed over two chairs, his feet dangling in dilapidated carpet-slippers over the edge of the second chair.

    Chapter 3 1908

  • Surprisingly enough, some of our schools, believe it or not, can't be wired because they are so dilapidated, which is why I've been trying to get a school construction initiative passed through Congress.

    Remarks By The President In Discussion On The Digital Divide ITY National Archives 2000

  • Current plans show Burton now wants to take away a section of the house re built in the last century - which his architects say is "dilapidated" - and replace it with a building of a similar size, using reclaimed red bricks and old timber and iron work.

    Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph James Orr 2011

  • A second curiosity in the fort is a small unimportant temple, now much dilapidated, which is considered as very sacred by the Hindoos.

    A Woman's Journey Round the World Ida Pfeiffer 1827

  • S.venty-five properties in the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood have been identified as dilapidated, according to officials charged with managing a $6. 75-million rehabilitation project.

    Evening News and Tribune Homepage 2010

  • Director: Martin Ginestie An investigation into the debate surrounding the fate of Robin Hood Gardens, controversial East London housing estate described as a dilapidated concrete eyesore by some and a masterpiece in Brutalist architecture by others.

    indieWIRE News 2010

  • An investigation into the debate surrounding the fate of Robin Hood Gardens, controversial East London housing estate described as a dilapidated concrete eyesore by some and a masterpiece in Brutalist architecture by others.

    Cinematical William Goss 2010

  • S.venty-five properties in the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood have been identified as dilapidated, according to officials charged with managing a $6. 75-million rehabilitation project.

    Evening News and Tribune Homepage 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • But by now this lodge was old and dilapidated.

    September 13, 2007

  • As the light looked so dim, and the place, for the time, looked quiet enough, and the dilapidated little wooden house itself looked as if it might have been carted here from the ruins of some burnt district, and as the swinging sign had a poverty-stricken sort of creak to it, I thought that here was the very spot for cheap lodgings, and the best pot of pea coffee.

    April 5, 2009