dying

[dahy-ing]

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.

noun

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

dying

/ ˈdaɪɪŋ /

verb

1. the present participle of die 1

adjective

1. relating to or occurring at the moment of death

   a dying wish

Other Word Forms

• half-dying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dying¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see under die.

Example Sentences

Over his career, though, Paul also became the last of a dying breed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Unlike his characters, Anthony Pratt lived a long life, dying at the age of 90.

Read more on BBC

Slovenia holds a new referendum Sunday on whether a law legalising assisted dying will be enforced or suspended after critics mounted a campaign against the legislation.

Read more on Barron's

They think that the jet of high-energy particles could not burst through the outer layers of this dying star and remained trapped inside.

Read more on Space Scoop

As she was dying in 1977, after a long decline from what was likely untreated cancer, Crawford told a Christian Science practitioner that she was ready to go.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• death 
• decease 
• demise 
• expiration 
• loss of life www.thesaurus.com
• passing