verb
Uncommon
slay
slay
Slay (verb) means to kill. Example: “The knight set out to slay the dragon.”
verb
1
To kill.
""This is a graph of the death rate from infectious disease in this country. The heroes of my field have slain one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. While the heroes of your field gathered in the desert to create a new one.""
— Randall Munroe, xkcd (webcomic) (2015)
"Our foes must all be slain."
"The knight set out to slay the dragon."
2
To impress or amaze greatly (informal, modern slang).
"She absolutely slayed her presentation this morning."
How to use slay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTraditionally means to kill; in current slang it means to do something impressively well.
When to use it
The "impress" sense is very informal internet/pop-culture slang, common since the 2010s.
Common pairings
slay a dragon
slay it
you slayed that
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Word forms
- Plural
- slays
- Third person singular
- slays
- Past tense
- slew, slayed, slain, yslain
- Comparative
- more slay
- Superlative
- most slay
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The knight set out to _____ the dragon.
Etymology
From Old English slean ("to strike, kill"), related to modern German schlagen ("to hit"); the same root behind "slaughter."
Related words
Rhymes for slay
See all rhymes for slay →Frequently asked questions
What does “slay” mean?
The word “slay” means to kill. In plain terms, traditionally means to kill; in current slang it means to do something impressively well.
How do you pronounce “slay”?
“Slay” is pronounced slay (/sleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “slay” in a sentence?
Here is “slay” used in a sentence: “The knight set out to slay the dragon.”
What part of speech is “slay”?
“Slay” is a verb.
Where does the word “slay” come from?
The word “slay” comes from Old English. From Old English slean ("to strike, kill"), related to modern German schlagen ("to hit"); the same root behind "slaughter.".
Is “slay” a common word?
“Slay” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “slay” have?
“Slay” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to kill.
