dying1 dying2 adjective
dyingdy‧ing1 /ˈdaɪ-ɪŋ/ 
Longman Language Activatorwhen a lot of people or things do something at the same time
use this to say that a lot of people or things do something, or go or appear somewhere all at the same time: · During the dry season animals gather in large numbers around the water holes.· Young people are leaving the countryside and moving to the city in large numbers.
if people go somewhere in droves , they go in large numbers especially when this surprises you: · Nurses are leaving the profession in droves.· People came in droves to watch the fireworks display.
if people go somewhere in force or in strength a lot of them go together so that there is a large number of them in a particular place: · The police arrived in force to break up the crowd of demonstrators.· If Latino voters turn out in strength for the next election, results could be very different.
if people do something by the hundreds or by the thousands very large groups of them are doing it at the same time: · People in the drought-stricken region are dying by the hundreds.· From all over the country, people came by the thousands to pay respect to their dead leader.
if messages, events etc come thick and fast , a lot of them suddenly come or happen in a short time: · At first no one was interested in the job but now applications are coming in thick and fast.· Rumours flew thick and fast that the company was going to be sold.
to be dying or suddenly becoming ill in large numbers: · In the middle of the cholera epidemic, people were dropping like flies.· When Sam reached 70, it seemed his friends started dying like flies.
to want something very much to want something to happen, when it is unlikely or impossible that it will happen, or when you cannot control what will happen: wish (that): · I wish I had a car like that.· Beth wished she could stay there forever.wish somebody/something would do something: · I wish they would turn that music down.
especially spoken to want something very much, and feel that you would be happy if you had it: · I would love a cup of coffee.would love to do something: · She would love to have children, but she hasn't met the right man.· "Would you like to go on a Caribbean cruise?" "I'd love to!" would love somebody to do something: · My mother would love me to come and live in New York with her.
if you say that you would do anything , would give anything or would give your right arm , you mean you very much want to have something or do something, especially something that is impossible to get or do: would do anything/would give anything/would give your right arm for: · I would do anything for a drink right now!· I would give anything for a look at that file.would do anything/would give anything/would give your right arm to do something: · When she first started writing, she would have done anything to get an article printed.· I'd give my right arm to be 21 again.
also be keen to do something British to want to do something very much, especially because you think it will be interesting or enjoyable or it will help other people: · He's really keen to meet you.· I was eager to get my hands on these rare recordings.· Donna is very eager to prove her worth to the group.be keen for somebody to do something: · My parents were keen for me to be independent, and let me have a lot of freedom.
to want very much to do or achieve something, so that you make a great effort: · Miles was anxious to gain his boss's approval, and was always the last to leave the office in the evening.· A newly-arrived executive is usually anxious to make his mark in a new firm.be anxious for somebody/something to do something: · After the war, the government was anxious for the tourist industry to be revived.
to want something very much, and feel that you must have it or do it immediately: be dying to do something: · I'm dying to meet Lisa's new boyfriend.be dying for: · I'm dying for a drink - let's go to a bar.
especially British to want or need something so much that you will be very unhappy or disappointed if you do not get it: · I could see that they were desperate and needed help.be desperate to do something: · After having four boys, the couple were desperate to have a little girl.· We were desperate to view the inside of the house once we saw the garden.be desperate for: · Newspapers are always desperate for stories.
spoken say this when you want something to happen as soon as possible, because you know you will enjoy it and you are very excited about it: · "You're going on holiday soon, aren't you?" "Yes, I can't wait."I can't wait to do something: · I can't wait to see Bill again - it's been a long time.can't wait for: · I can't wait for Christmas.
to be impatient to do something that you are excited about, especially something you have not done before: · She's just itching to tell you about her new boyfriend.· Despite her success, however, it just wasn't much fun anymore. Liz was itching to try something different.
a word used especially in spoken English meaning to want something very much, especially something to eat, drink etc: · I need a drink - coming to the bar?· Dave's been working really hard - he needs a holiday.
to want as much of something as you can get, especially food, attention, or a drug: · I've always craved love and acceptance.· The review gave Picasso a taste of the recognition he craved.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Real cowboys are a dying breed (=not many exist anymore). Most of the dead and injured had been passengers on the bus.
Real cowboys are a dying breed (=not many exist anymore). Most of the dead and injured had been passengers on the bus.· Her last wish was to be buried in her husband’s grave.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
the present participle of die- With his last breath, he told me he would always love me.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
dying1 dying2 adjective
dyingdying2 adjective EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Even as she lay dying in a hospital bed, she was still thinking of her children.
- He gave the dying man a drop of water from his flask.
- The priest was killed as he was giving the last rites to a dying man.
- Magee ignored the crimson puddles and knelt beside the dying man again, this time rolling him over on to his back.
- Some of the patients, especially the dying, wanted to confide in the man and woman who had eased their suffering.
- The dying planet has a metaphysical relationship to my own mortality and to that extent my inquiry into landscape is inherently ironic.
- The bucket seethed with dying fish.
- The other prime mover was that the slump is now in its dying throes.
- When it comes to death, counselling the dying, or helping the bereaved, we Christians have become secularised.
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone is going to die very soon
if someone is dying , they will die very soon because they are very ill or very badly injured: · He gave the dying man a drop of water from his flask.· The priest was killed as he was giving the last rites to a dying man.lie dying: · Even as she lay dying in a hospital bed, she was still thinking of her children.
formal to be going to die very soon: · When the fisherman spotted the boat, its crew were already close to death.· Davis had suffered a stroke and was near death.
to be lying in your bed, about to die: · My grandmother gave me that ring when she was on her deathbed.· Thirty years later, on her deathbed, she confessed to the crime.
spoken to be extremely ill and likely to die soon: · His skin was so pale, he looked like he was at death's door.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It was her dying wish to have a simple burial. Women who enjoy baking are a dying breed.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Real cowboys are a dying breed (=not many exist anymore). Most of the dead and injured had been passengers on the bus.
It was her dying wish to have a simple burial. Women who enjoy baking are a dying breed. Real cowboys are a dying breed (=not many exist anymore). Most of the dead and injured had been passengers on the bus.· Her last wish was to be buried in her husband’s grave.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The upholder, rueful harbinger of death, Waits with impatience for the dying breath.
· There are still a few of this dying breed around.· Little old ladies who had relished home baking were a dying breed and the younger generation simply couldn't relate to them.
· Though the sinful propensities remain in us till our dying day, they need not be dominant.· They kept writing to her about retrenchment till her dying day.· His screams were so terrible that none who ever heard them forgot them till their dying day.· I thought: that story is relevant to nothing, but I shall remember it until my dying day.· He would insist to his dying day that an arctic wolf had savaged him.· He chose Everton over Arsenal and will regret that decision to his dying day.
· Left alone, Breeze crouched over the dying embers and tried to realize that this was Christmas Eve.
· They were sitting on either side of a dying fire.
· The Padre found that they even sometimes flew into his throat while he was reading or praying with a dying man.· The dying man should be surrounded by his friends and family, should make, as it were, a day of it.· Viktor stood while he blessed the dying man and anointed him.· The narrow, hot streets dinned with the silver bray of trumpets and the shrieks of dying men and women.· Magee ignored the crimson puddles and knelt beside the dying man again, this time rolling him over on to his back.· To disturb and shake a peacefully dying man simply to oblige your friend here who thinks he is a healer?
· In the dying minutes, full-back, Paul Bodin burst through.· Jason Chandler made certain in the dying minutes of the game, Good Sports winning 2-1.· Hereford usually crack or collapse in the dying minutes.· A hummingbird, taking advantage of the dying minutes of daylight, feeds on flower nectar in the fragrant garden.· Slaven put the ball in the net in the dying minutes but the goal was disallowed for offside.· But these batting efforts were overshadowed in the dying minutes, when David Lawrence suffered an horrific injury.
· Having worked on providing everything the dying person needs, the next step is to prepare to say goodbye.· Just as the dying person will make preparation in anticipation, so will the people around.· It allows the process to start, often with the dying person having a part to play.· There seems to be no place for a dying person on the surgical wards.· If there are no relatives or friends, staff should be organised to stay with the dying person.· Relatives or friends will say that the dying person must have whatever they want.
· And, in the dying seconds, Miklosko blocked Smillie's close-range effort.· One moment of astonishing creativity in the dying seconds on Saturday transported him to the centre of Arsenal's universe.· The decisive goal in the dying seconds of the first half was a beauty.· Tranmere turned up the heat and Mark Proctor retaliated in the dying seconds of the first half.· A lightweight bout saved in the dying seconds - Manchester's still got a lot to answer for.· He survived a hard blow to the jaw in the dying seconds to win 20-10.
· Who was Jenny to deny a man his last dying wish?
· You can't repay a dying woman.· One dark, stormy night I visited the dying woman.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► the dyingPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1dying moment/minutes/seconds during the last minutes, seconds etc before something ends: - And, in the dying seconds, Miklosko blocked Smillie's close-range effort.
- Hereford usually crack or collapse in the dying minutes.
- In the dying minutes, full-back, Paul Bodin burst through.
- Jason Chandler made certain in the dying minutes of the game, Good Sports winning 2-1.
- One moment of astonishing creativity in the dying seconds on Saturday transported him to the centre of Arsenal's universe.
- Sean Farrell popped in the opener and Danny Allsopp made sure of the points in the dying seconds.
- The World Champion launched a direct attack in the dying moments of the first session.
- He chose Everton over Arsenal and will regret that decision to his dying day.
- He would insist to his dying day that an arctic wolf had savaged him.
- Nixon believed to his dying day, and with good reason, that Kennedy had stolen the contest, especially in Illinois.
- With his last breath, he told me he would always love me.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
Chandler’s goal was in the dying minutes of the game.2[only before noun] happening just before someone dies: It was her dying wish to have a simple burial.3to your dying day for the rest of your life: He regretted the decision to his dying day.4[only before noun] gradually decreasing until soon there will be none left: Women who enjoy baking are a dying breed.5the dying [plural] people who are dying: a hospice for the dying