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.
From Boyle Heights to Monterey Park, residents said they were overwhelmed by the smoke from the week-long fire, and then tormented by the horrible stench from decaying meat and seafood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 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
According to Marek, millipedes were among the early pioneers of life on land, helping recycle nutrients by feeding on decaying organic material in some of the first terrestrial ecosystems.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 14, 2026
He advanced past Amarante Cordova’s decaying house to another crumbling building which had once belonged to the Ledouxs, most of whom were presently employed in the steel mills of Pueblo, Colorado.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
