die
dih
Die (verb) means to stop living; to reach the end of life. Example: “The old oak tree finally died after the drought.”
verb
1
To stop living; to reach the end of life.
"The old oak tree finally died after the drought."
"He died peacefully in his sleep at ninety-two."
"Flowers will die quickly if you forget to water them."
2
To stop working or functioning; to break down.
"My phone battery died halfway through the film."
"The engine died right in the middle of the intersection."
"The lights died during the storm and the whole street went dark."
3
To want something so much it feels overwhelming (informal, exaggerated use).
"I’m dying for a coffee right now."
noun
1
A small cube marked with dots on each face, used in games of chance (plural: dice).
"She rolled the die and moved her piece four spaces."
"The game needs one die and a counter for each player."
"He shook the die in his hand before throwing it across the board."
2
A tool or mold used to cut or shape metal, plastic, or other material into a specific form.
"The factory uses a steel die to stamp out coin blanks."
"A worn die can leave rough edges on the metal parts."
"The workers fitted a new die to the press this morning."
How to use die
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop being alive, or (informally) for a machine to stop working — also a completely unrelated word for a gaming cube or a metal-shaping tool.
Common mistake
Don’t confuse with "dye" (to color fabric) — they sound identical but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
die of natural causes
die laughing
roll the die
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Word forms
- Plural
- dies, dice
- Third person singular
- dies
- Past tense
- died
- Archaic forms
- diest, diedst, dieth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old oak tree finally _____ after the drought.
Etymology
From Middle English deyen, likely from Old Norse deyja, ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to die." It gradually replaced the older native English words for dying.
Synonyms
View more →
lose one's life
dice
assume room temperature
bite the dust
bite the big one
buy the farm
check out
code
cross over
cross the river
decompose
dematerialize
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for die
See all rhymes for die →Frequently asked questions
What does “die” mean?
The word “die” means to stop living; to reach the end of life. In plain terms, to stop being alive, or (informally) for a machine to stop working — also a completely unrelated word for a gaming cube or a metal-shaping tool.
How do you pronounce “die”?
“Die” is pronounced dih ([däɪ̯] in IPA).
How do you use “die” in a sentence?
Here is “die” used in a sentence: “The old oak tree finally died after the drought.”
What is another word for “die”?
Words with a similar meaning to “die” include assume room temperature, bite the dust, bite the big one, buy the farm, check out and code.
What is the opposite of “die”?
The opposite of “die” — its antonyms — are breathe, live, subsist, survive and be born.
What part of speech is “die”?
Depending on how it is used, “die” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “die” come from?
The word “die” comes from Middle English. From Middle English deyen, likely from Old Norse deyja, ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to die." It gradually replaced the older native English words for dying.
Is “die” a common word?
“Die” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between die and dye?
To die means to stop living, as when a person or animal reaches the end of life. To dye means to change the colour of something, such as fabric or hair, using a coloured solution. They sound identical but are unrelated, so 'dye your shirt' must never be spelled 'die'.
What is the past tense of die?
The past tense is 'died', and the present participle is 'dying'. Note the spelling change: the -ie becomes -y before adding -ing, giving 'dying' rather than 'dieing'. By contrast, colouring fabric gives 'dyeing', which keeps the e to avoid confusion with 'dying'.
What are some gentler ways to say someone has died?
English has many softer expressions, known as euphemisms, such as 'passed away', 'passed on', 'lost their life', or 'is no longer with us'. These gentler phrases are often preferred when comforting the bereaved, as the plain word 'died' can feel blunt in sensitive situations.
Does 'die' only apply to people?
No. Any living thing can die, including animals, plants, and even cells. Figuratively, the word stretches further still: engines die when they cut out, sounds die away as they fade, and enthusiasm can die down. In every case it signals something coming to an end.
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