Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
1.5 million people are in immediate danger of death from starvation.
...the thirtieth anniversary of her death.
The report mentions the death of 18 people in suspicious circumstances.
There had been a death in the family.
Synonyms: dying, demise [euphemistic], bereavement, end More Synonyms of death
2. countable noun
A particular kind of death is a particular way of dying.
They made sure that he died a horrible death.
He would rather have a decent death which served some purpose than a meaninglessdeath.
3. singular noun
Thedeathof something is the permanent end of it.
It meant the death of everything he had ever been or ever hoped to be.
...the death of pop music.
Synonyms: destruction, ending, finish, ruin More Synonyms of death
4.
See at death's door
5.
See fight to the death
6.
See a fight to the death
7.
See life and/or death
8.
See put sb to death
9.
See to death
10.
See to death
11.
See work sb/os to death
More Synonyms of death
death in British English
(dɛθ)
noun
1.
the permanent end of all functions of life in an organism or some of its cellular components
2.
an instance of this
her death ended an era
3.
a murder or killing
there were five deaths in the battle
4.
termination or destruction
the death of colonialism
5.
a state of affairs or an experience considered as terrible as death
your constant criticism will be the death of me
6.
a cause or source of death
7. (usually capital)
a personification of death, usually a skeleton or an old man holding a scythe
8. to death
9. at death's door
10. catch one's death
11. do to death
12. in at the death
13. like death warmed up
14. like grim death
15. put to death
▶ Related adjectives: , , ▶ Related prefixes: , fatal, lethal, mortal, necro-, thanato-
Word origin
Old English dēath; related to Old High German tōd death, Gothic dauthus
death in American English
(dɛθ)
noun
1.
the act or fact of dying; permanent ending of all life in a person, animal, or plant
2. [D-]
the personification of death, usually pictured as a skeleton in a black robe, holding a scythe
3.
the state of being dead
4.
any ending resembling dying; total destruction
the death of our hopes
5.
any condition or experience thought of as like dying or being dead
6.
the cause of death
smoking will be the death of him
7.
murder or bloodshed
8. Obsolete
pestilence
the Black Death
Idioms:
at death's door
be death on
do to death
in at the death
put to death
to death
to the death
Derived forms
deathlike (ˈdeathˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
ME deth < OE dēath, akin to OS dōth, OHG tōd, ON dauthi: see dead
More idioms containing
death
to death
sign someone's or something's death warrant
look like death warmed up
a living death
hold onto something like grim death
fight to the death to do something
dice with death
a death blow
bored to death
sound the death knell
the kiss of death
COBUILD Collocations
death
assisted death
avenge the death of
cancer death
certain death
child death
civilian death
confirm the death
deaths worldwide
early death
escape death
face death
flu death
grisly death
horrific death
imminent death
lingering death
mourn the death of
needless death
painful death
premature death
probe the death of
record a death
report a death
risk death
road death
slow death
surround the death
tragic death
treat the death as
unexpected death
unexplained death
unnecessary death
untimely death
Examples of 'death' in a sentence
death
Who decides matters of life or death?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is a sense of a death in the family.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And somehow they manage to make the deaths of famous people all about them.
The Sun (2016)
There are fears that the death toll will rise as the weather worsens.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her own mother had starved to death but her father had not been imprisoned.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He faces the death penalty if convicted.
The Sun (2017)
Each year around the world there are 18million cases of sepsis, resulting in eight million deaths.
The Sun (2016)
In their case it is very often the difference between life and death.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There was only one death in the end.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Their red motor had notes on it warning people they risked death if they opened the doors.
The Sun (2011)
You have to remember we have a death sentence hanging over us.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The death and the killing was wrong.
The Sun (2015)
The young winger was saved from almost certain death by sheer chance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Death is not something you want to hang around.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The exact death toll remained shrouded in mystery.
The Sun (2013)
They have caused massive death and destruction over the years.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His inaction condemned many innocent people to a horrible death.
The Sun (2012)
Now family and friends fear the addiction will end in her death unless she can beat it.
The Sun (2006)
One is that older people are more likely to dream about death.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Two policemen and a retired officer were arrested as part of an inquiry into the death of a man in custody.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We will experience pain and death.
Christianity Today (2000)
How do you marry the requirement to praise the person in death with the more uncomfortable reality of their behaviour in life?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For us it's life or death.
The Sun (2015)
Aids alone has been responsible for more than 35 million deaths globally.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was found by a man while he was helping his elderly mother to clear out her belongings after the death of his father.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou returnBible: Genesis
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for theeJohn DonneLXXX Sermons
To die completely, a person must not only forget but be forgotten, and he who is not forgotten is not deadSamuel ButlerNotebooks
Death, the most dreaded of evils, is therefore of no concern to us; for while we exist death is not present, and whendeath is present we no longer existEpicurusletter to Menoeceus
Death hath so many doors to let out lifeJohn FletcherThe Custom of the Country
I could not look on Death, which being known, Men led me to him, blindfold and aloneRudyard KiplingEpitaphs of the War
One dies only once, and it's for such a long timeMolièreLe Dépit Amoureux
I want death to find me planting my cabbages, but caring little for it, and even less for the imperfections of my gardenMontaigneEssais
Anyone can stop a man's life, but no one his death; a thousand doors open on to itSenecaPhoenissae
Death hath ten thousand doors For men to take their exitsJohn WebsterThe Duchess of Malfi
After the first death, there is no otherDylan ThomasA refusal to mourn the death, by fire, of a child in London
Revenge triumphs over death; love slights it; honour aspireth to it; grief flieth to itFrancis BaconEssays
Fear death? - to feel the fog in my throat, The mist in my faceRobert BrowningProspice
Death never takes the wise man by surprise; he is always ready to goJean de la FontaineFables
If there wasn't death, I think you couldn't go onStevie Smith
My name is Death: the last best friend am IRobert SoutheyThe Curse of Kehama
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?Bible: I Corinthians
It is good to die before one has done anything deserving deathAnaxandridesfragment
Fear of death is worse than death itselfWilliam ShakespeareKing Lear
I have been half in love with easeful deathJohn KeatsOde to a Nightingale
How wonderful is death, Death and his brother sleep!Percy Bysshe ShelleyQueen Mab
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evilBible: Psalm 23
Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not soJohn DonneHoly Sonnets
We all labour against our own cure, for death is the cure of all diseasesThomas BrowneReligio Medici
Death is nature's way of telling you to slow downAnon.
Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in childrenis increased with tales, so is the otherFrancis BaconEssays
Death and taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of themMargaret MitchellGone with the Wind
There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the intervalGeorge SantayanaSoliloquies in England
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxesBenjamin Franklinletter to Jean Baptiste Le Roy
Death is the great leveller
In other languages
death
British English: death /dɛθ/ NOUN
Death is the end of the life of a person or animal.
These people are in immediate danger of death from starvation.
American English: death
Arabic: مَوْت
Brazilian Portuguese: morte
Chinese: 死亡
Croatian: smrt
Czech: smrt
Danish: død
Dutch: dood
European Spanish: muerte
Finnish: kuolema
French: mort
German: Tod
Greek: θάνατος
Italian: morte
Japanese: 死
Korean: 죽음
Norwegian: dødsfall
Polish: śmierć
European Portuguese: morte
Romanian: moarte
Russian: смерть
Latin American Spanish: muerte
Swedish: död
Thai: ความตาย
Turkish: ölüm
Ukrainian: смерть
Vietnamese: cái chết
All related terms of 'death'
cot death
Cot death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep , although the baby had not previously been ill .
death cap
a poisonous woodland saprotrophic basidiomycetous fungus , Amanita phalloides, differing from the edible mushroom ( Agaricus ) only in its white gills (pinkish-brown in Agaricus ) and the presence of a volva
death ray
an imaginary ray capable of killing
death row
If someone is on death row , they are in the part of a prison which contains the cells for criminals who have been sentenced to death.
death tax
a tax on money or property that a person inherits
flu death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
to death
You use to death after a verb to indicate that a particular action or process results in someone's death.
Black Death
a deadly disease, probably bubonic plague , which devastated Europe and Asia in the 14th cent .
brain death
Brain death occurs when someone's brain stops functioning, even though their heart may be kept beating using a machine .
cheat death
If you say that someone cheats death , you mean they only just avoid being killed .
child death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
civil death
(formerly) the loss of all civil rights because of a serious conviction
crib death
Crib death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep , although the baby had not previously been ill .
death adder
a venomous Australian elapid snake , Acanthophis antarcticus, resembling an adder
death bell
a bell tolled to announce a death
death blow
If you say that an event or action deals a death blow to something such as a plan or hope, or is a death blow to something, you mean that it puts an end to it.
death camp
A death camp is a place where prisoners are kept , especially during a war , and where many of them die or are killed .
death cell
a prison cell for criminals sentenced to death
death duty
a tax on property inheritances : in Britain, replaced in 1975 by capital transfer tax and since 1986 by inheritance tax
death grant
(in the British National Insurance scheme ) a grant payable to a relative, executor , etc, after the death of a person
death house
the section of a prison containing an execution chamber and the cells in which persons condemned to die are housed in the days just before their execution
death knell
something that heralds death or destruction
death march
a long-distance forced march , usually undertaken by prisoners , on which a lot of the marchers die
death mask
A death mask is a model of someone's face, which is made from a mould that was taken of their face soon after they died .
death metal
a type of heavy-metal music characterized by extreme speed and lyrics dealing with violence , satanism , etc
death rate
The death rate is the number of people per thousand who die in a particular area during a particular period of time.
death roll
a list of the people killed in a war or disaster
death seat
the seat beside the driver of a vehicle
death slide
a rope or cable stretched between two points of different heights, down which a person slides for fun on a suspended harness or pulley
death squad
Death squads are groups of people who operate illegally and carry out the killing of people such as their political opponents or criminals .
death stare
a fixed stare that expresses strong displeasure or disapproval
death taxes
Death taxes were a tax which had to be paid on the money and property of someone who had died . This tax is now called → inheritance tax .
death toll
The death toll of an accident, disaster, or war is the number of people who die in it.
death trap
If you say that a place or vehicle is a death trap , you mean it is in such bad condition that it might cause someone's death.
death wish
A death wish is a conscious or unconscious desire to die or be killed .
early death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
face death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
heat death
the condition of any closed system when its total entropy is a maximum and it has no available energy. If the universe is a closed system, it should eventually reach this state
risk death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
road death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
slow death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
cancer death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
certain death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
death benefit
the benefit payable if the holder of a life insurance policy dies before the policy matures
death camass
any liliaceous plant of the genus Zygadenus (or Zigadenus ), of the western US, that is poisonous to livestock , esp sheep
death chamber
a room in which someone has died
death-dealing
fatal ; lethal
death duties
Death duties were a tax which had to be paid on the money and property of someone who had died . This tax is now called → inheritance tax .
death futures
life insurance policies of terminally ill people that are bought speculatively for a lump sum by a company, enabling it to collect the proceeds of the policies when the sufferers die
death notice
a public announcement , e. g . in a newspaper , that someone has died
Chinese translation of 'death'
death
(dɛθ)
n
(c/u)[of person, animal]死亡 (sǐwáng) (个(個), gè)
(s) (= end)[of way of life, tradition]消亡 (xiāowáng)
(c) (= fatality) 死亡 (sǐwáng) (个(個), gè)
(to die) a horrible/lonely death恐怖地/孤独(獨)地死去 (kǒngbù de/gūdú de sǐqù)
(a matter of) life and death生死攸关(關)(的事情) (shēngsǐ yōuguān (de shìqing))
to put sb to death处(處)死某人 (chǔsǐ mǒurén)
to be stabbed/beaten to death被刺死/打死 (bèi cìsǐ/dǎsǐ)
to scare/bore sb to death吓(嚇)死某人/使某人感到无(無)聊之极(極) (xiàsǐ mǒurén/shǐ mǒurén gǎndào wúliáo zhī jí)
All related terms of 'death'
death penalty
▶ the death penalty 死刑 sǐxíng
death sentence
死刑判决(決) sǐxíng pànjué
the death penalty
死刑 sǐxíng
a brush with death
差点(點)丢(丟)命的遭遇 chàdiǎn diūmìng de zāoyù
to bleed to death
流血而死 liúxuè ér sǐ
to choke to death
呛(嗆)死 qiàngsǐ
to put sb to death
处(處)死某人 chǔsǐ mǒurén
to starve to death
饿(餓)死 èsǐ
to club sb to death
用棍棒将(將)某人打死 yòng gùnbàng jiāng mǒurén dǎsǐ
to hack sb to death
乱(亂)刀砍死某人 luàndāo kǎnsǐ mǒurén
to stab sb to death
刺死某人 cìsǐ mǒurén
he was savaged to death
他被残(殘)害致死 tā bèi cánhài zhì sǐ
to be crushed to death
被压(壓)死 bèi yāsǐ
to sentence sb to death
判某人死刑 pàn mǒurén sǐxíng
on pain of death/imprisonment
违(違)者以死/监(監)禁论(論)处(處) wéizhě yǐ sǐ/jiānjìn lùnchǔ
to scare/bore sb to death
吓(嚇)死某人/使某人感到无(無)聊之极(極) xiàsǐ mǒurén/shǐ mǒurén gǎndào wúliáo zhī jí
the announcement of his resignation/death/engagement
他的退休/死亡/订(訂)婚的通告 tā de tuìxiū/sǐwáng/dìnghūn de tōnggào
to sentence sb to death/to 5 years in prison
判某人死刑/5年囚禁 pàn mǒurén sǐxíng/wǔ nián qiújìn
to be bored to tears or bored to death or bored stiff
( inf ) 厌(厭)烦(煩)得要死 yànfán de yào sǐ
if it had been any colder we would have frozen to death
如果再冷一点(點)，我们(們)就要被冻(凍)死了 rúguǒ zài lěng yīdiǎn, wǒmen jiùyào bèi dòngsǐ le
(a matter of) life and death
生死攸关(關)(的事情) shēngsǐ yōuguān (de shìqing)
(to die) a horrible/lonely death
恐怖地/孤独(獨)地死去 kǒngbù de/gūdú de sǐqù
1 (noun)
Definition
an instance of this
There had been a death in the family.
Synonyms
dying
demise (euphemistic)
His demise left us heartbroken.
bereavement
those who have suffered a bereavement
end
Soon after we spoke to him, he met a violent end.
passing
His passing will be mourned by many people.
release
loss
Surviving the loss of a loved one has made me feel old.
departure
curtains (informal)
cessation
expiration
decease
quietus
Opposites
birth
2 (noun)
Definition
ending or destruction
the death of everything he had ever hoped for
Synonyms
destruction
Our objective was the destruction of the enemy forces.
ending
finish
ruin
It is the ruin of society.
wiping out
undoing
extinction
Many species have been hunted to the point of extinction.
elimination
downfall
His lack of experience led to his downfall.
extermination
the extermination of thousands of innocent people
annihilation
Political leaders fear the annihilation of their people.
obliteration
the obliteration of an entire city
ruination
Opposites
beginning
,
rise
,
growth
,
emergence
3 (noun)
Carrying a long scythe is the hooded figure of Death.
Synonyms
the Grim Reaper
the Angel of Death
the Dark Angel
idioms
See at death's door
See death knell
See put someone to death
related words
related adjectivesfatallethalmortal
related maniasnecromaniathanatomania
related phobiathanatophobia
Quotations
Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return [Bible: Genesis]Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee [John Donne – LXXX Sermons]To die completely, a person must not only forget but be forgotten, and he who is not forgotten is not dead [Samuel Butler – Notebooks]Death, the most dreaded of evils, is therefore of no concern to us; for while we exist death is not present, and when death is present we no longer exist [Epicurus – letter to Menoeceus]Death hath so many doors to let out life [John Fletcher – The Custom of the Country]I could not look on Death, which being known, Men led me to him, blindfold and alone [Rudyard Kipling – Epitaphs of the War]One dies only once, and it's for such a long time [Molière – Le Dépit Amoureux]I want death to find me planting my cabbages, but caring little for it, and even less for the imperfections of my garden [Montaigne – Essais]Anyone can stop a man's life, but no one his death; a thousand doors open on to it [Seneca – Phoenissae]Death hath ten thousand doors For men to take their exits [John Webster – The Duchess of Malfi]After the first death, there is no other [Dylan Thomas – A refusal to mourn the death, by fire, of a child in London]Revenge triumphs over death; love slights it; honour aspireth to it; grief flieth to it [Francis Bacon – Essays]Fear death? - to feel the fog in my throat, The mist in my face [Robert Browning – Prospice]Death never takes the wise man by surprise; he is always ready to go [Jean de la Fontaine – Fables]If there wasn't death, I think you couldn't go on [Stevie Smith]My name is Death: the last best friend am I [Robert Southey – The Curse of Kehama]O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [Bible: I Corinthians]It is good to die before one has done anything deserving death [Anaxandrides – fragment]Fear of death is worse than death itself [William Shakespeare – King Lear]I have been half in love with easeful death [John Keats – Ode to a Nightingale]How wonderful is death, Death and his brother sleep! [Percy Bysshe Shelley – Queen Mab]Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil [Bible: Psalm 23]Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so [John Donne – Holy Sonnets]We all labour against our own cure, for death is the cure of all diseases [Thomas Browne – Religio Medici]Death is nature's way of telling you to slow down [Anon.]Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other [Francis Bacon – Essays]Death and taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them [Margaret Mitchell – Gone with the Wind]There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval [George Santayana – Soliloquies in England]In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes [Benjamin Franklin – letter to Jean Baptiste Le Roy]
proverb
Death is the great leveller
Additional synonyms
in the sense of annihilation
Political leaders fear the annihilation of their people.