dying

American  

[dahy-ing] / ˈdaɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. ceasing to live; approaching death; expiring.

   a dying man.

2. of, relating to, or associated with death.

   his dying hour.

3. given, uttered, or manifested just before death.

   her dying words.

4. drawing to a close; ending.

   the dying year.

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noun

1. the act or process of ceasing to live, ending, or drawing to a close.

dying British  

/ ˈdaɪɪŋ /

verb

1. the present participle of die 1

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adjective

1. relating to or occurring at the moment of death

   a dying wish

dying Idioms  

1. see under die.

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Other Word Forms

• half-dying adjective

Etymology

Origin of dying

1250–1300; Middle English. See die ¹, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The disease is inherited and currently incurable, with many children dying within a few years of diagnosis.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

The Catalan regional government had granted her the right to assisted dying in 2024.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Mr. Levine plays a far gentler and more original character than we’re used to from him; Jennifer Jason Leigh, as Nicky’s mother, Victoria, has long turned her dying cadences into the voice of dread.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

One was that, from Pasadena flower beds to Compton’s crop acreage, plants across L.A. were dying.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Trading up, and trading up, and eventually dying rich or on the side of the road.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• death
• decease
• demise
• expiration
• loss of life
• passing