ancient ruins

Meaning

This phrase refers to the decayed, collapsed, or preserved remains of very old buildings, cities, or monuments from past civilizations. Travelers use this term when visiting famous historical landmarks. It evokes a sense of deep history and architectural wonder.

Examples

• We spent the entire afternoon exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii.

  We spent the entire afternoon exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii.

• You can see the ancient ruins of the castle overlooking the modern harbor.

  You can see the ancient ruins of the castle overlooking the modern harbor.

• The tour guide explained how these ancient ruins were first discovered in the 19th century.

  The tour guide explained how these ancient ruins were first discovered in the 19th century.

• It's incredible to think that people lived in these ancient ruins thousands of years ago.

  It's incredible to think that people lived in these ancient ruins thousands of years ago.

• Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because the paths around the ancient ruins are very uneven.

  Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because the paths around the ancient ruins are very uneven.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We visited some ancient ruins buildings.

  ✓ We visited some ancient ruins.

  'Ruins' is already a noun meaning the remains of collapsed buildings; adding the word 'buildings' after it is redundant.

• ✗ The city has a lot of antique ruins.

  ✓ The city has a lot of ancient ruins.

  'Antique' is typically used for collectible objects like furniture or jewelry. For historical structures of great age, 'ancient' is the natural collocation.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The hike leads to some incredible ___ hidden deep in the jungle.

  💡 Extremely old, collapsed stone structures.

  Show answer

  ancient ruins

• Greece is famous for its stunning coastlines and preserved ___.

  💡 Historical remains of old civilizations.

  Show answer

  ancient ruins