dying 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdī-iŋ How to pronounce dying (audio)
Definition of dyingnext
as in fallen
nearly dead we watered the dying plants just in time

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dying

2 of 3

noun

as in death

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dying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of die
1
as in perishing
to stop living the king died of old age after a long and fruitful reign

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2
as in ending
to come to an end the storm died just as dawn was breaking over the horizon

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3
as in failing
to stop functioning fortunately, when the engine died we were only two blocks from home

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dying
Adjective
What’s the vibe for you, post-dying? — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase. — Lauren David, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
In contrast, those with all three conditions averaged just 17 years before developing dementia or dying. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Advertisement In the final phase of dying—a period Barbara Karnes, a hospice nurse and educator since the 1970s, calls labor—many people become nonresponsive. — Angela Haupt, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 But does a basil plant covered in black spots mean its dying? — Heather Bien, The Spruce, 26 July 2026 Due to such discomfort – or for other reasons – people often delay making plans for their own dying process. — Jane Callahan, The Conversation, 14 July 2026 Tis hard to see the mighty prancing war horse, trampling the dying and dead beneath their merciless feet. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 However, his second wife, Alicent Hightower (played as a young girl by Emily Carey and as an adult by Olivia Cooke), interprets his incoherent dying words as a change of heart in favor of her son, Aegon II Targaryen (played as a child by Ty Tennant and as an adult by Tom Glynn-Carney). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026 After the woman departed the cruise liner where the hantavirus outbreak occurred, the ship continued to other destinations in the South Atlantic, with some passengers falling ill and at least three dying. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 Louis begged Lestat to turn a dying, human Claudia into a vampire, and the two then adopted her as a sort of daughter. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 June 2026
Verb
Released two years after methadone treatment regulations were modernized, the toolkit only passingly mentions the medication known to vastly reduce someone’s odds of dying from opioid overdose. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 Aug. 2026 Shakur remains a cultural icon and is considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time, despite dying at 25. — CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 The biggest pair of films in MCU history contain key moments like Steve going back in time and passing the mantle to Sam, and of course, Tony Stark dying in the grand finale to save the universe. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 In the dying stages of the game, Messi hit each post in quick succession and then had a goal ruled out for offside before the full-time whistle sounded. — Dean Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, poor Uncle Sam is slowly dying under the debt’s burden. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026 Nidhi imagined the baby crawling around in her mother’s body, desperately seeking the uterus, and, failing to find it in its proper place, quietly shrivelling up and dying. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 However, even after a cardiac event, less than one-third of patients participate, despite strong evidence that cardiac rehabilitation programs reduce hospitalizations and risk of dying. — Sadiya S. Khan, Time, 16 Aug. 2026 These incongruous people end up dying in the same dragon fire and looking the same way in a strangely intimate sort of pose. — Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dying
  1. fallen
  2. death
  3. perishing
  4. ending
  5. failing
  6. dead
  7. demise
  8. falling
Adjective
  • Kneeling beside the fallen buck, Charles, an avid trophy bowhunter, ran his hands over the gigantic rack.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The rules ban all plants within a foot of the home and require the first five feet around homes to be free of combustible materials such as firewood, fallen leaves and branches, and mulch or wood chips.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fallen
Noun
  • After news broke of Panettiere’s death, tributes from across Hollywood came pouring in online.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jack Coleman, who co-starred in the sci-fi drama Heroes alongside Hayden Panettiere, mourned the actress’ death at age 36 in an emotional tribute.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of death
Verb
  • This summer has been a deadly one in Europe, with over 10,000 people perishing in the extreme heat over just a few weeks.
    — Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Julie Chen Moonves shares her thoughts on that wild Big Brother premiere, including Rachel Reilly perishing in a volcano.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026
Definition of perishing
Verb
  • The 60-day deadline for the two sides to reach a deal toward ending the conflict has now passed.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • With prospects for a deal toward ending the war with Iran unclear, the stability of oil supplies remains uncertain with the Strait of Hormuz nearly closed, blocking a vital route for oil and gas tankers from the Middle East.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of ending
Verb
  • The company has bucked the trend of failing casual dining restaurants.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Eight of the squad must have been registered in England or Wales for three full seasons before their 21st birthday, but Chelsea are not in danger of failing to meet that threshold.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of failing
Adjective
  • This one stars Cox himself as a mysterious and formidable old man in an undertaker’s suit and parson’s hat who wanders into an Arizona border town in 1890 to gather the names of dead Mexican laborers.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • His mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his brother, Siddharth Aravind, 14, were found dead Tuesday in their home in Acton, some 20 miles northwest of Boston, prosecutors said.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of dead
Noun
  • Over time, the same system that profited from his brilliance proved indifferent to his vulnerability, and his life became reduced to a singular narrative of addiction and demise.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Tribune played a key role in the demise of Nixon’s presidency.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of demise
Verb
  • Peltz weighs deal for Wendy’s Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund is assembling a group that could bid to take Wendy’s private as the chain faces declining sales, falling traffic, and restaurant closures.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The boring rosters, the passive-aggressive press conferences, the endless parade of mediocre seasons — cresting and falling with an inexplicable 2021 and 2026 — has been brutal to watch.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of falling

Browse Nearby Words

dyestuffs
dying
dying (away or down or out)
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Cite this Entry

“Dying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dying. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dying

Nglish: Translation of dying for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dying

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