die

1 of 2

verb

ˈdī 

died; dying ˈdī-iŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to pass from physical life : expire

died at the age of 56

die young

died from his injuries

a dying tree

2

a

: to pass out of existence : cease

their anger died at these words

b

: to disappear or subside gradually

—often used with away, down, or out

the storm died down

3

a

: sink, languish

dying from fatigue

b

: to long keenly or desperately

dying to go

c

: to be overwhelmed by emotion

die of embarrassment

4

a

: to cease functioning : stop

the motor died

b

: to end in failure

the bill died in committee

5

: to become indifferent

die to worldly things

die

2 of 2

noun

ˈdī 

plural dice ˈdīs  or dies ˈdīz 

1

plural dice : a small cube marked on each face with from one to six spots and used usually in pairs in various games and in gambling by being shaken and thrown to come to rest at random on a flat surface

—often used figuratively in expressions concerning chance or the irrevocability of a course of action

the die was cast

2

plural dies, architecture : dado sense 1a

3

plural dies : any of various tools or devices for imparting a desired shape, form, or finish to a material or for impressing an object or material: such as

a(1)

: the larger of a pair of cutting or shaping tools that when moved toward each other produce a desired form in or impress a desired device on an object by pressure or by a blow

(2)

: a device composed of a pair of such tools

b

: a hollow internally threaded screw-cutting tool used for forming screw threads

c

: a mold into which molten metal or other material is forced

d

: a perforated block through which metal or plastic is drawn or extruded for shaping

Phrases

die hard

1

: to be long in dying

such rumors die hard

2

: to continue resistance against hopeless odds

that kind of determination dies hard

die on the vine

: to fail especially at an early stage through lack of support or enthusiasm

let the proposal die on the vine

to die for

: extremely desirable or appealing

the dessert was to die for

Synonyms

Verb

• check out
• conk (out)
• croak [slang]
• decease
• demise
• depart
• drop
• end
• exit
• expire
• fall
• flatline
• go
• kick in [slang]
• kick off [slang]
• pass (on)
• pass away
• part
• peg out [chiefly British]
• perish
• pop off
• step out
• succumb

Noun

• bones
• dice

Examples of die in a Sentence

Verb

She claims she's not afraid to die.

He died in 1892 at the age of 37.

People in the town began dying suddenly.

He died a violent and painful death.

Her secret died with her.

He's the last of a dying breed.

Noun

Each player throws one die.

he rolled the die, hoping for a six

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Two members of the Secret Service died in the attacks. —Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Her sister Lauren Bessette, 34, and husband John F. Kennedy Jr., 38, also died in the crash. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024

Noun

The last bit of skepticism that light is quantized dies. —Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024

Of those, 128,000 end up in the hospital and 3,000 die each year across the country. —Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 17 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English dien, from or akin to Old Norse deyja to die; akin to Old High German touwen to die

Noun

Middle English dee, from Anglo-French dé

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing die

• cross my heart and hope to die
• die away
• die before one's time
• die by suicide
• die down
• die from/of hunger
• die in bed
• die in childbirth
• die in committee
• die in one's bed
• die in one's sleep
• die intestate
• die laughing
• die like flies
• die of
• die off
• die of/from thirst
• die out
• do-or-die
• never say die
• old habits die hard
• sine die
• the die is cast

Kids Definition

die

1 of 2 verb

ˈdī 

died; dying ˈdī-iŋ 

1

: to stop living : expire

died of old age

2

a

: to pass out of existence : come to an end

their anger was dying down

b

: to disappear or lessen gradually

the wind died down

3

a

: to wish eagerly or desperately

dying to go

b

: to be completely overcome with emotion

almost died of embarrassment

4

: to stop functioning

the motor sputtered and died

die

2 of 2 noun

ˈdī 

1

plural dice ˈdīs  : a small cube marked on each side with one to six spots and used usually in pairs in various games

—often used figuratively in expressions concerning chance or the absence of possible change in a course of action

the die was cast

2

plural dies ˈdīz  : any of various devices used for cutting, shaping, or stamping a material or object

Etymology

Verb

Middle English dien "to die," of Norse origin

Noun

Middle English dee "small cube marked with spots and thrown in gambling, dice," from early French dé (same meaning)

Medical Definition

die

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈdī 

died; dying ˈdī-iŋ 

1

: to suffer total and irreversible loss of the bodily attributes and functions that constitute life

2

: to suffer or face the pains of death

die

2 of 2 noun

plural dies ˈdīz 

: any of various tools or devices for imparting a desired shape, form, or finish to a material or for impressing an object or material