decay
verb (used without object)
to become decomposed; rot.
had decayed
-
past perfectof decay.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
But by the time of Mikhailov’s youth, socialist realism had become the only permitted style, and imagery of the revolution had decayed into Stalinist kitsch.
From New York Times ● Oct. 28, 2022
Based on how it had decayed, the team suspected that the specimen had been scavenged, perhaps by other ichthyosaurs, Larkin wrote.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 10, 2022
When investigators recovered her remains, physical evidence had decayed, The Washington Post reported at the time.
From Fox News ● Mar. 23, 2021
How old was the earth when 99.999999% of the 26Al originally present had decayed?
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Although it is young and all she has, it is as if it had decayed on the vine at budding time.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
