deathbed

American  

[deth-bed] / ˈdɛθˌbɛd /

noun

• deathbeds
  plural

1. the bed on which a person dies.

   The museum contains Lincoln's deathbed.

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adjective

1. of, pertaining to, said, or done during the last few hours of a person's life.

   a deathbed confession.

idioms

1. on one's deathbed, in the last few hours before death.

deathbed British  

/ ˈdɛθˌbɛd /

noun

1. 1. the bed in which a person is about to die

   2. ( as modifier )

      a deathbed conversion

2. about to die

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• deathbeds
  plural

Etymology

Origin of deathbed

First recorded in 1350–1400, deathbed is from the Middle English word deethbed. See death, bed

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

deathbed deathbeds

"We are asking those involved in this illegal rendition that has put Dr Besigye on his deathbed be addressed and those responsible be held accountable," said Hussein Khalid of rights group Vocal Africa.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

When mother and son sing songs from the famous cycle by Bengali writer-composer and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore or hold a deathbed conversation in Bangla, the piece spins further across time and space.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

“How terrible it would have been,” Mr. Biswas muses in satisfaction on his deathbed, “to have lived and died as one had been born, unnecessary and unaccommodated.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

"No man on his deathbed says 'damn, I wish I'd been at the office more', I don't think. We all want to keep our lives in balance," she adds.

From BBC ● May 1, 2026

It is said that Francis himself is at Leonardo’s deathbed.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

The first occurred on July 4, 1826, when the last members of a generation of fiery patriots lay on their deathbeds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

He did not want to destroy what he called a “delusion” that these missionaries might need on their own deathbeds.

From New York Times ● Jan. 21, 2024

At the time, social contact was limited to a bare minimum and many people were furious that they had been unable to visit loved ones on their deathbeds or attend funerals.

From Reuters ● Jan. 13, 2022

Like another site, sorryantivaxxer.com, the subreddit hosts snippets and photographs of anti-vaccine advocates, often taken at their deathbeds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2022

It is to the credit of human nature that, as a rule, men even of the lowest type feel the uselessness, the degradation, of trying to annul their past on their deathbeds.

From Diana Tempest, Volume I (of 3) by Mary Cholmondeley