dying

American  

[dahy-ing] / ˈdaɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. ceasing to live; approaching death; expiring.

   a dying man.

2. of, relating to, or associated with death.

   his dying hour.

3. given, uttered, or manifested just before death.

   her dying words.

4. drawing to a close; ending.

   the dying year.

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noun

1. the act or process of ceasing to live, ending, or drawing to a close.

dying British  

/ ˈdaɪɪŋ /

verb

1. the present participle of die 1

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adjective

1. relating to or occurring at the moment of death

   a dying wish

dying Idioms  

1. see under die.

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Other Word Forms

• half-dying
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dying

1250–1300; Middle English. See die ¹, -ing ², -ing ¹

Explanation

Something that's dying is about to die or is getting ready to stop existing. A shriveled up plant that hasn't been watered in days is probably dying. Dying is a process that will happen to us all: living things eventually die. But non-living things can be dying, too: a battery that doesn't have much juice left is dying, and so is a TV show that's bombing in the ratings. A craft that's losing popularity can be called a dying art. States of extreme stress or anticipation can also be described as a form of dying, as in "I'm dying to know how this book ends!"

Example Sentences

Forty years later, Kendrick Lamar borrowed Gadson’s intricate rhythm pattern for “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst,” from the rapper’s 2012 breakthrough album, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

But it also signals a significant departure in style for the British pop star, as heard on songs such as Chains of Love and Dying For You.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Dying civilizations whose cruel class structures eventually lead to revolution form the basis of so many science-fiction plots that it’s difficult to find a truly unusual take.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Dr. Dugdale is a physician and ethicist at Columbia University and the author of “The Lost Art of Dying: Reviving Forgotten Wisdom.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

Dying belowground was not very high on his things to do list.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Related Words

• death
• decease
• demise
• expiration
• loss of life
• passing