adj
Common
dying
DEYE-ihng
Dying (adj) means Close to death; in the final stage of life. Example: “He spent his dying days surrounded by family.”
adj
1
Close to death; in the final stage of life.
"He spent his dying days surrounded by family."
"It was her dying wish to see the ocean one last time."
"The vet said the dying horse was no longer in pain."
noun
1
The process of coming to the end of life; the act of ceasing to live.
"The hospice focuses on comfort and dignity during dying."
"Many people fear the pain of dying more than death itself."
"The nurse spoke gently with families about dying and what to expect."
How to use dying
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishApproaching or experiencing death.
Common mistake
Don't mix up with "dyeing" (colouring something) — same sound, different spelling and meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
dying wish
dying breath
a dying art
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Word forms
- Plural
- dyings
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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.
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