dying
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for dying, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Close to death; in the final stage of life.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
expiring
slipping away
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Close to death; in the final stage of life.
“He spent his dying days surrounded by family.”
Opposites
How to use dying
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dying wish
dying breath
a dying art
Etymology
From "die" plus the "-ing" ending, dropping the silent e.
Full origin of 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.
