death
death — noun
1. the moment when a living creature's body stops working forever and life ends com
the moment when a living creature's body stops working forever and life ends completely
The paramedics tried to revive her, but the cause of death was a massive heart attack.
cause of death — common phrase for medical/legal context
Ryo's grandfather passed away peacefully, and the family gathered in Tokyo to honour his death.
In many countries, a doctor must sign a death certificate before the body can be moved.
death certificate — official document of death registration
The old mango tree's sudden death surprised the village — it had looked healthy a month before.
death of [plant] — extended use to living things other than humans
- cause of death
- death certificate
- sudden death
- death rate
- death toll
- death sentence
- die a natural death
- die a violent death
Grammar Patterns
death + of + [person/animal]
die a + adjective + death
Usage Note
This sense can refer to the death of any living organism, not only humans. The phrase 'cause of death' is extremely common in medical and legal English.
Common Mistakes
2. used after adjectives such as 'bored', 'scared', or 'tired' to mean 'extremely'
used after adjectives such as 'bored', 'scared', or 'tired' to mean 'extremely' or 'to an unbearable degree'
Hannah was bored to death during the three-hour lecture on soil composition.
bored to death — most common intensifier use
Little Mateo was scared to death of the loud fireworks on New Year's Eve.
scared to death — expressing extreme fear
After ten years of the same daily routine, Sari felt sick to death of her office job.
sick to death of — expressing extreme annoyance
The children were tickled to death when the clown pulled a live rabbit out of his hat.
- bored to death
- scared to death
- sick to death
- tickled to death
- frightened to death
- extremely
neutral, works across all registers
- to bits / to pieces
British informal alternative, as in 'thrilled to bits'
Grammar Patterns
[adjective] + to death
Usage Note
Only a limited set of adjectives commonly combine with 'to death': bored, scared, frightened, tired, sick, tickled. This pattern is informal and would sound unnatural in formal academic writing.
Common Mistakes
3. continuing up to the moment someone dies; used in fixed phrases that emphasise l
continuing up to the moment someone dies; used in fixed phrases that emphasise loyalty, determination, or a struggle that only ends when one person dies
The two rival gangs fought to the death over control of the neighbourhood market.
fight to the death — physical struggle ending only when one side dies
Constanza remained faithful unto death to the promises she had made to her late husband.
faithful unto death — expressing lifelong loyalty
The defenders knew they must hold the bridge to the death or the enemy would take the city.
hold [something] to the death — military determination
Nia swore she would defend her family's farm to the death against the land developers.
- fight to the death
- faithful unto death
- hold to the death
- defend to the death
- to the bitter end
similar determination but does not necessarily involve literal death
- for life
same meaning of permanence but without the violent struggle connotation
Grammar Patterns
to the death
unto death
fight + to the death
Usage Note
This sense appears almost exclusively in set phrases. It is often used dramatically and may sound old-fashioned in everyday conversation outside of fixed expressions like 'fight to the death'.
Common Mistakes
4. a person, thing, or event that causes the end of a person's life, or the complet
a person, thing, or event that causes the end of a person's life, or the complete destruction or failure of something that is not alive, such as a business, tradition, or plan
The opening of the big supermarket was the death of the small grocery shops in the town.
the death of [business] — the cause of failure
Polluted well water proved to be the death of many early settlers in the region.
Cheap streaming services with original shows have spelled the death of many traditional cable television channels.
spell the death of — predicting or causing the end of something
The new highway through the forest will mean the death of several endangered species living there.
- the death of
- be the death of
- spell the death of
- mean the death of
- prove the death of
- ruin
focuses on financial or social collapse; less final than 'death'
- destruction
more violent and physical; suggests active demolition
- downfall
suggests a fall from a previous high position
Grammar Patterns
the death + of + [something]
be the death of + [someone/something]
Usage Note
When used in 'be the death of [someone]', this phrase is often light-hearted in modern conversation ('This job will be the death of me!'), but in literary or news contexts it can be literal and serious.
Common Mistakes
at death's door
idiomso ill or weak that you might die soon
After two weeks with a terrible fever, the old woman was at death's door before the medicine finally started working.
The cat looked as though she was at death's door, but after a warm meal and a night's sleep she was running around again.
to make someone worry or suffer so much that they become very upset, or to cause someone's death (often used humorously in everyday speech)
These noisy children will be the death of me — they never stop arguing even for five minutes.
Rania joked that her mother's constant phone calls would be the death of her, but she actually loved the attention.
to get a very bad cold from being out in cold or wet weather
Put on a coat before you go outside, or you will catch your death of cold in this rain.
Madison ran home in her wet clothes, and her grandmother scolded her for catching her death.
cheat death
idiomto survive a situation in which you could very easily have died
The mountain climber cheated death when his rope caught on a rock just before he would have fallen into the deep valley below.
Felix felt he had cheated death after his car flipped over on the highway and he walked away with just a few small cuts.
dice with death
idiomto take a very serious risk by doing something that could easily kill you
Motorcycle racers who speed at over three hundred kilometres an hour are dicing with death every time they get on the track.
The photographer was dicing with death as she stood right at the edge of the active volcano to take pictures of the lava.
a terrible situation that someone would do anything to avoid, often used humorously to describe something embarrassing or unpleasant
For a shy teenager like Christopher, having to give a speech in front of the whole school was a fate worse than death.
Anong said that spending a whole week without internet access would be a fate worse than death.
a situation that is extremely serious or urgent, often but not always involving actual danger of dying
The ambulance driver said it was a matter of life and death and asked everyone to move out of the way.
Amani told her boss that finding the lost passport was a matter of life and death because her flight left in three hours.
put someone to death
idiomto kill a person as a legal punishment for a serious crime
In some countries, a person convicted of murder can be put to death by lethal injection.
The king ordered the rebels to be put to death for their role in the uprising against his rule.
to do, perform, or use something so many times that people become tired or annoyed by it
That pop song has been done to death on the radio — I cannot listen to it one more time.
The joke about the chicken crossing the road has been done to death, yet new comedians still tell it.
death knell
idioman event or sign that marks the end or failure of something
The invention of the smartphone sounded the death knell for the simple flip phone that could only make calls and send texts.
The leak of the company's financial problems rang the death knell for any hope of getting a bank loan.
kiss of death
idioman action or event that seems helpful but is certain to cause failure or ruin in the end
Being praised by that unpopular critic was the kiss of death for the new restaurant — suddenly nobody wanted to eat there.
When a big technology company buys a small start-up, it is often the kiss of death for the creative culture that made the start-up successful.
to hold something very tightly because you are afraid of falling or being hurt
The little girl hung on for grim death to her father's hand as they crossed the busy street full of speeding cars.
During the storm at sea, the sailors held on for grim death to the railings as huge waves crashed over the deck.
at death’s door
idiomVery close to dying because of serious illness.
After the car accident, the driver was at death's door for weeks.
Is your grandfather really at death's door, or is he just tired?
die a/the death
idiomTo fail completely, especially after trying hard.
The new restaurant died a death because nobody liked the food.
Her plan to start a club died a death when no one joined.
To fight until one side is completely defeated or dead.
The two boxers fought to the death in the ring.
In the movie, the hero and villain fight to the death.
To repeat an idea or story so often that it becomes boring.
The teacher flogged the grammar rule to death until everyone understood.
That joke has been flogged to death; please tell a new one.
To make someone extremely afraid.
The loud noise frightened the little girl to death.
Did the horror movie scare you to death?
To hold something very tightly because you are afraid of falling or losing it.
During the storm, Sara held on to the railing like grim death.
He hung on for grim death as the boat rocked wildly.
the kiss of death
idiomSomething that seems good but actually causes failure.
Getting praised by the boss was the kiss of death for his project.
That endorsement turned out to be the kiss of death for the product.
life after death
idiomThe belief that people continue to exist in some form after dying.
Many religions teach that there is life after death.
Do you think there is life after death?
To look or feel very sick or extremely tired.
After working all night, Maya looked like death warmed up.
I feel like death warmed up after that long flight.
A situation that is extremely important or serious, often involving risk.
Getting the medicine to the patient is a matter of life and death.
For the small business, this contract is a matter of life or death.
To kill someone as a legal punishment.
The court decided to put the murderer to death.
In some countries, they put criminals to death for serious crimes.
to death
idiomUsed to emphasize that something is done to an extreme degree.
The children were bored to death during the long lecture.
I am sick to death of hearing that same song.
to the death
idiomUntil someone is dead, often used with fight or struggle.
The two rivals fought to the death in the final match.
They were enemies to the death, never giving up.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words refer to the end of life, but they differ in tone and context. 'Death' is the neutral, all-purpose term used in everyday conversation, news reports, and medical contexts. 'Demise' is more formal and appears mostly in written news ('the demise of the former president') or legal language; it can also be applied metaphorically to organisations. 'Passing' is a gentler, euphemistic word that emphasises the peaceful nature of the event and is often used to show respect ('the passing of a beloved teacher'). 'End' is the broadest of the four and requires a modifier to refer specifically to death ('the end of her life'). Example: 'The newspaper reported the sudden death of the actor. His family issued a statement about his peaceful passing. Legal experts discussed the demise of the company he founded. For many, it marked the end of an era.'
Common collocations
Phrases
- cause of death
- death by drowning
- death from starvation
- fight to the death
- sentence someone to death
Etymology
The word 'death' comes from Old English 'dēaþ', which goes back to the Proto-Germanic word '*daudaz'. This Germanic root is related to the verb 'die' and to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as German 'Tod' and Dutch 'dood'. The ultimate origin is the Proto-Indo-European root '*dheu-', meaning 'to die, to pass away', which also gave rise to words for 'death' in many other ancient languages of Europe and Asia.