decay
verb (used without object)
to become decomposed; rot.
have decayed
-
present perfectof decay.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
“Remote and hybrid work used to be a privilege, but its benefits over in-person work have decayed across the board,” Chris Martin, senior economist at Glassdoor, told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 27, 2026
In several cases, these concretions sealed off the interior lining, preserving pieces of fabric that would normally have decayed long ago.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 8, 2026
Methane spends a lot less time in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide; about 20 years after it's released, most of it will have decayed, while carbon dioxide lingers in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2024
Some of these radionuclides have a relatively short half-life and would already have decayed in the 12 years since the disaster.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 23, 2023
By then all the stars will have burned out and the protons and neutrons in them will probably have decayed into light particles and radiation.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
