kill
verb (used with object)
to deprive of life in any manner; cause the death of; slay.
had killed
-
past perfectof kill.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.
In Tibet, Chinese state media said that the "mudslide disaster" had killed three people, while 558 people, including 260 foreigners, were missing.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
Last month, the national park said the "apocalyptic" wildfire had killed plant life, insects and other wildlife that had not been able to escape the flames.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
An avian influenza outbreak had killed tens of millions of chickens and turkeys, and wholesale prices of Midwest large eggs hit $5.36 a dozen in late 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Halfway through the session, Denver TV news anchor Kyle Clark asked the candidate how many people he had killed.
From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026
Months after Lee was arrested and charged with capital murder, six additional pathologists examined the body and unanimously concluded that neonatal pneumonia had killed the child—it was a classic stillbirth with very common features.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
