perish
verb (used without object)
to die or be destroyed through violence, privation, etc..
had perished
-
past perfectof perish.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.
He also stood at the "Door of Europe" memorial for those who had perished attempting the crossing and spoke to a migrant family.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
The garden's collection has been laboriously reassembled after it had perished during World War II -- through decades of purchases, exchanges and numerous scientific missions that took Ivannikov's senior colleagues across several continents.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
Some wondered whether their loved ones had perished on this desolate spot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025
Two days after the disaster, the United Nations estimated that about 670 people had perished.
From New York Times ● Jun. 6, 2024
She wouldn’t be able to smoke them out—her five remaining matches had perished at the same time as the kudu meat—but perhaps she could use a long stick to fish out the honey.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
