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Prepositions after verbs

Hurt by, in, like, for or from?

Hurt is commonly used with by and from. Other prepositions may appear in specific contexts or may not form standard combinations with the verb.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with hurt?

Use hurt by for emotional or physical causes, and hurt from for pain resulting from an action, condition, or experience. Hurt in can refer to a body part or area. Hurt like is informal and usually part of expressions such as hurt like crazy. Hurt for is uncommon with this meaning and usually belongs to different sentence structures.

She was deeply hurt by his words.
My legs hurt from running.
He was hurt in the accident.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
hurt by + cause/person

Showing what caused emotional or physical pain

By introduces the person, comment, or event causing hurt.

She felt hurt by the criticism.
He was hurt by their decision.
2
hurt from + activity/condition

Explaining the source of physical pain

From introduces the activity, illness, or condition causing pain.

My back hurts from sitting too long.
She was hurting from the injury.
3
hurt in + body part/place

Identifying where the injury happened

In can refer to the body area or situation connected to the injury.

He was hurt in the shoulder.
Several people were hurt in the crash.
4
hurt like + informal comparison

Using informal expressions for strong pain

Like appears in informal phrases such as hurt like hell or hurt like crazy. It is not a standard fixed preposition pattern with hurt.

My arm hurt like crazy after the workout.
That cut hurt like hell.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
hurt by
She was hurt by the remark.
Standard pattern for emotional or physical cause.
hurt in
He was hurt in the accident.
In introduces a place, event, or body area.
hurt like
My ankle hurt like crazy.
Informal expression showing strong pain.
hurt for
She hurt for the grieving family.
Different meaning: feel sympathy for someone, not receive pain.
hurt from
His knees hurt from running.
Standard pattern for pain caused by an activity or condition.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for instead of by for emotional pain

By is used for the source of emotional hurt.

✕ She was hurt for his comment. ✓ She was hurt by his comment.

Confusing from and by

From often describes physical causes such as activities or conditions.

✕ My legs hurt by running. ✓ My legs hurt from running.

Using like in formal writing

Hurt like is informal and best avoided in formal contexts.

✕ The patient reported that it hurt like hell. ✓ The patient reported severe pain.

Using in without a clear place or body area

In should introduce a location, event, or body part.

✕ He was hurt in her words. ✓ He was hurt by her words.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was hurt ___ the unfair criticism.
2. My shoulders hurt ___ carrying heavy bags.
3. Several passengers were hurt ___ the collision.

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Frequently asked questions

Is hurt by correct?

Yes. Hurt by is standard for emotional or physical causes of pain.

When do we use hurt from?

Use hurt from for pain caused by activities, injuries, or conditions, such as hurt from exercise.

Is hurt like formal English?

No. Hurt like is informal and mainly used in spoken expressions such as hurt like crazy.

hack-into-by-at-to, in "haggle with" or "haggle for"? "hail from" or "hail as"? hamper by, due, in, for or throughout? "handle by" or "handle in"? hang in, from, over, around or onto? "happen to" or "happen in"? harass by, in, at, for or with? "harm by" or "harm to"? harvest from, in, for, at or by? hasten to, by, from, after or into? hate on, for, by, about or in?

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