dead
dehd
Dead (adj) means No longer alive. Example: “The old oak tree had been dead for years.”
adj
1
No longer alive.
"The old oak tree had been dead for years."
"Her grandfather has been dead since 2010."
"The flowers on the table were dead after a week without water."
2
No longer working, active, or in use.
"My phone battery is dead."
"That line has been dead for months — nobody uses it anymore."
"The line went dead in the middle of our phone call."
3
Complete or exact, especially describing precision or stillness.
"He hit dead centre with his first shot."
"There was dead silence in the room."
"The car came to a dead stop at the red light."
adv
1
Completely; exactly.
"You're dead right about that."
"The arrow landed dead on target."
"The shop was dead quiet on Sunday morning."
How to use dead
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNo longer alive, or (informally) no longer working, active, or exact/complete.
When to use it
The intensifier use ("dead easy", "dead right") is common in British informal speech.
Common pairings
dead battery
dead silence
dead tired
dead on time
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dead.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- deads
- Past tense
- deaded
- Comparative
- deader
- Superlative
- deadest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old oak tree had been _____ for years.
Etymology
From Old English dead, from a Proto-Germanic root also behind German tot and Dutch dood.
Synonyms
View more →
absolutely
abruptly
suddenly
short
utterly
perfectly
asleep
at rest
blessed
cadaverous
clay-cold
deceased
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dead
See all rhymes for dead →Frequently asked questions
What does “dead” mean?
The word “dead” means no longer alive. In plain terms, no longer alive, or (informally) no longer working, active, or exact/complete.
How do you pronounce “dead”?
“Dead” is pronounced dehd (/dɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “dead” in a sentence?
Here is “dead” used in a sentence: “The old oak tree had been dead for years.”
What is another word for “dead”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dead” include asleep, at rest, blessed, cadaverous, clay-cold and deceased.
What is the opposite of “dead”?
The opposite of “dead” — its antonyms — are alive, live and living.
What part of speech is “dead”?
Depending on how it is used, “dead” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “dead” come from?
The word “dead” comes from Old English. From Old English dead, from a Proto-Germanic root also behind German tot and Dutch dood.
Is “dead” a common word?
“Dead” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the opposite of dead?
The direct opposites are "alive" and "living." Where "dead" means no longer alive, "alive" means having life and being active. Related contrasts include "animate" versus "inanimate." In figurative uses, the opposite shifts too — a "dead" battery becomes "charged," and a "dead" phone becomes "working" once more.
What is the difference between dead and deceased?
Both mean no longer alive, but they differ in tone. "Dead" is plain, direct, and used in everyday speech. "Deceased" is formal and appears mainly in legal, medical, or official contexts, and can sound more respectful. You would say "the deceased" in a courtroom, not among friends.
Can "dead" be used figuratively?
Very often. A phone with no power is "dead," a quiet town is "dead," and total silence is "dead silence." A road with no exit is a "dead end." In these cases "dead" signals something inactive, empty, or finished rather than literally deprived of life.
Is "dead" a harsh word to use about people?
It can sound blunt. When discussing someone who has died, many people choose gentler phrases like "passed away," "lost," or "no longer with us." Formal writing often prefers "deceased." "Dead" is accurate and direct, but its plainness can feel cold in sensitive or grieving situations.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include dead:
