deathbed

noun

death·​bed ˈdeth-ˌbed How to pronounce deathbed (audio)
1
: the bed in which a person dies
2
: the last hours of life
Phrases
on one's deathbed
: near the point of death

Examples of deathbed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Jang-ho admits all of this to his daughter-in-law and the psychopathic Sa-eon’s mother, Shim Kyu-jin (Chu Sang-mi), on his deathbed. Kayti Burt, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025 His name was initially cleared but police returned their focus on him after his stepsister contacted authorities in 2008, telling them their mother allegedly implicated her son on her own deathbed. Sean Neumann, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024 At the end of his life, Callas went to visit Onassis on his deathbed — a moment that was devastating for the opera diva, Onassis’ then personal secretary, Moutsatsos said. Katie Mannion, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024 All three are living together, briefly, in a Lower East Side condo to wait at their dad’s deathbed, bickering over groceries and reopening ancient familial wounds. Rachel Handler, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deathbed 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deathbed was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near deathbed

Cite this Entry

“Deathbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deathbed. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

deathbed

noun
death·​bed -ˌbed How to pronounce deathbed (audio)
1
: the bed in which a person dies
2
: the last hours of life

Medical Definition

deathbed

noun
death·​bed ˈdeth-ˌbed How to pronounce deathbed (audio)
1
: the bed in which a person dies
2
: the last hours of life

More from Merriam-Webster on deathbed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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