dying
Dying (adj) means close to death; in the final stage of life. Example: “He spent his dying days surrounded by family.”
How to Use Dying
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishApproaching or experiencing death.
Don't mix up with "dyeing" (colouring something) — same sound, different spelling and meaning.
Word Forms
dyings plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He spent his _____ days surrounded by family.
Etymology
From "die" plus the "-ing" ending, dropping the silent e.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for dying
See all rhymes for dying →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “dying” mean?
The word “dying” means close to death; in the final stage of life. In plain terms, approaching or experiencing death.
How do you pronounce “dying”?
“Dying” is pronounced DEYE-ihng (/ˈdaɪ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dying” in a sentence?
Here is “dying” used in a sentence: “He spent his dying days surrounded by family.”
What is the opposite of “dying”?
The opposite of “dying” — its antonyms — is nascent.
What part of speech is “dying”?
Depending on how it is used, “dying” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “dying” a common word?
“Dying” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dying” have?
“Dying” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: close to death; in the final stage of life.
What is the difference between dying and dyeing?
Dying, with one 'e', means coming to the end of life — from the verb die. Dyeing, keeping the 'e', means colouring fabric or hair with dye. They sound identical but mean completely different things: a dying plant is fading, while dyeing a shirt turns it a new colour.
What is the difference between dying and dead?
Dying describes the process of approaching death — the person or thing is still alive but failing. Dead means life has already ended. A dying tree still has leaves clinging on; a dead tree has none. Dying is the final stage; dead is what comes after it.
Can dying be used figuratively?
Yes. Beyond literal death, dying often describes things fading away — a dying industry, a dying tradition, or a fire dying down. Informally, 'dying to' means eagerly wanting something ('dying to know'), and 'dying of' laughter or boredom is a common exaggeration. The core idea of fading remains.