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Definition die in British English

die verb

verb
/daɪ/

Words that may cause offence: die

When someone has died, people usually avoid mentioning death directly when they speak to the family and friends of that person. They often say pass away or pass on instead of die, or they use indirect expressions such as ‘I am sorry for your loss’ or ‘I was sorry to hear about your father/mother’.

1

to stop being alive

Example

My grandfather died at the age of 86.

Example

She is dying of cancer.

Example

1 in 3 people over 65 will die with dementia.

Example

They were ready to die for their country.

Example

Tragically, Keats died young.

Example

Several people in the village have died violent deaths.

Example

I'm proud to tell you that your son died a hero.

Synonyms and related words
2

to disappear, or to stop existing

Example

Our memory of her will never die.

Example

Coal mining is dying in this area.

Synonyms and related words
3

to stop burning or shining

Example

They watched the fire dying in the grate.

Synonyms and related words
Example

The car's just died on me.

Synonyms and related words
5

a place, position or situation where some abstract thing or concept is absent

Example

Upper-management is where diversity goes to die.

6

used for saying that an issue is very important to you and you won't change your mind or position on it

Example

He says that these are things that he would "die in a ditch for".

Example

Is this a die in a ditch issue?

7

to kill yourself

Definition die in British English