decay
verb (used without object)
to become decomposed; rot.
decays
-
present tense formof decay (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
Sphagnum moss can hold 20 times its weight in water and helps create peat bogs, where dead vegetation accumulates rather than decays, capturing carbon in the ground.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026
It contains radium that decays into radon gas, which is radioactive and can cause cancer.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025
Keeping the truth from someone might not be outright dishonesty, but it’s a rot that decays the same way, just festering at a slower pace.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2025
When the algae decays, it consumes oxygen, making the lake hypoxic — a dead zone without oxygen to support marine life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2024
“The vacuum decays to a slightly lower state,” says Puthoff.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
