decay
verb (used without object)
to become decomposed; rot.
decaying
-
present participleof decay.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The smell is like decaying wood being burned – that's the characteristic smell of peat. And that peat contains decomposed wood and organic material from many different sources."
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
That’s because they generally chow down on decaying fruit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
When the local economy began declining in the 1970s, the store closed its doors and sat abandoned and decaying.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Officials say some 1,800 localities have already vanished since the turn of the century -- ghost villages that have become nothing more than decaying buildings and a name on a map.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Underneath the cloying fragrance of the decaying flowers, the air was laced with the odors of gunpowder, damp hay, and the dusty musk of horseflesh.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
