die
die — noun
1. a specially shaped piece of hard metal that is used to press, cut, or stamp patt
a specially shaped piece of hard metal that is used to press, cut, or stamp patterns onto softer materials such as metal sheets or plastic.
The factory uses a steel die to stamp the company logo onto car doors.
collocation: steel die
Lotte watched the machine press the die against the heated plastic sheet.
collocation: press the die against
Elena replaced the worn die so the parts would keep their exact shape.
Each coin is struck by a die that imprints the design on both sides.
- steel die
- press the die
- replace the die
- cutting die
- stamping die
Grammar Patterns
a die
the die
dies (plural)
Usage Note
The plural form 'dies' is used for this sense, while 'dice' is the plural for the game-piece sense.
Common Mistakes
2. a cube with spots on each of its six faces, tossed by players to determine moves
a cube with spots on each of its six faces, tossed by players to determine moves or scores in games.
Imran rolled the die and moved his game piece forward five spaces.
collocation: roll the die
Christopher shook the two dice in his hand and threw them onto the board.
Most games include a single die, though using two speeds up play.
grammar: 'die' singular, 'dice' plural
In many board games, players take turns rolling a die to see who goes first.
- roll the die
- throw the die
- a pair of dice
- six-sided die
- dice
often used as the singular in modern, especially British, English
Grammar Patterns
roll a die
throw a die
a pair of dice
singular: die / plural: dice
Usage Note
The traditional singular is 'die' and plural is 'dice', though in modern informal English 'dice' is often used for both singular and plural.
Common Mistakes
die — verb
1. to cease living; to no longer remain alive, whether the end arrives quickly or f
to cease living; to no longer remain alive, whether the end arrives quickly or follows a long period.
The old dog died quietly in his sleep at the age of fourteen.
die + adverb of manner: died quietly
Many soldiers died during the long war far from their homes.
Rin's grandfather died last winter after a short illness.
No one knows exactly when or where the famous poet died.
A tree that has died can still provide shelter for birds and insects.
inanimate subject: a tree died
- die of cancer
- die from injuries
- die peacefully
- die suddenly
- die young
- live
to remain alive
Grammar Patterns
die + (of/from something)
die + for someone
Usage Note
This is the core sense of 'die'. For the cause of death, use 'die of' (disease, old age) or 'die from' (injuries, overdose). 'Die for' means to sacrifice one's life for a person or cause.
Common Mistakes
2. to die in a specific manner or because of a particular circumstance, with the wa
to die in a specific manner or because of a particular circumstance, with the way or reason for the death stated immediately after the verb.
Sade died peacefully at home surrounded by her family.
die + manner adverb: peacefully
Andrew died in a car accident on the highway last Tuesday night.
die + circumstance: in a car accident
The famous painter died young, leaving behind only a dozen finished works.
die + adjective complement: died young
Christopher died of a rare disease that doctors could not identify in time.
die + of + cause: died of a rare disease
- die young
- die peacefully
- die suddenly
- die of cancer
- die from injuries
- die in an accident
Grammar Patterns
die + adverb (young/suddenly/rich)
die + of/from/through
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense verb/1 (STOP LIVING): this sense always includes a manner adverb, cause phrase, or adjective complement that describes how or why the death happened.
Common Mistakes
3. to gradually disappear, fade away, or cease to exist — used of traditions, sound
to gradually disappear, fade away, or cease to exist — used of traditions, sounds, feelings, species, ideas, or other non-living things.
The tradition of handwritten letters is dying in the age of email.
subject: tradition — abstract noun
That old folk song will never die — families still sing it at gatherings.
When the last speaker passed away, the ancient language died with her.
The sound of their voices slowly died as they walked further into the forest.
die of sound: became quieter until silent
Hope never truly dies, even in the most difficult of times.
- die away
- language dies
- tradition dies
- sound dies
- hope dies
Grammar Patterns
die + (away/out)
die + (of its own accord)
Usage Note
The subject is always a non-living thing: a tradition, language, sound, feeling, species, or idea. For living things, use verb/1 (STOP LIVING) instead.
Common Mistakes
4. when a device, motor, or power source dies, it stops running — typically because
when a device, motor, or power source dies, it stops running — typically because the stored energy is gone or an internal part has broken.
Defne's phone died halfway through the call, so she had to find a charger.
subject: electronic device — phone died
The car engine died at the traffic lights and would not start again.
My laptop battery dies after only three hours of use now.
The old refrigerator finally died after twenty years of faithful service.
inanimate subject with time span
- battery dies
- engine dies
- phone dies
- die on someone
- car dies
Grammar Patterns
die + on someone (informal)
die + (out/completely)
Usage Note
Common with 'die on [someone]' to indicate the inconvenience the failure causes. Example: 'The wifi died on me in the middle of the meeting.'
Common Mistakes
5. to want something so extremely badly that you feel you cannot wait any longer —
to want something so extremely badly that you feel you cannot wait any longer — used in everyday, informal situations.
After walking all morning, the hikers were dying for a cold drink.
be dying for + noun: dying for a cold drink
Maeve was dying to meet her favourite author at the book signing event.
be dying to + infinitive: dying to meet
I am dying for a cup of coffee — I have not had one all day.
Adina was dying to know what was inside the beautifully wrapped gift.
- dying for a drink
- dying to know
- dying for a coffee
- dying to see
- dying to try
- dread
to fear or feel anxious about something
Grammar Patterns
be dying for + noun
be dying to + infinitive
Usage Note
Almost always used in the continuous form (be + dying). Not used in simple past: 'I died for a drink' does not carry this meaning. In formal writing, use 'long for' or 'desperately want' instead.
Common Mistakes
6. to be so strongly affected by an emotion — such as laughter, embarrassment, sham
to be so strongly affected by an emotion — such as laughter, embarrassment, shame, or excitement — that you feel overwhelmed by it.
Lakan was dying of laughter at Imran's silly joke during class.
be dying of + emotion: dying of laughter
When Elena tripped on stage, she was dying of embarrassment.
The children were dying with excitement on the morning of the school trip.
be dying with + emotion: dying with excitement
I almost died of shame when I called my teacher 'Mom' in front of everyone.
- dying of laughter
- dying of embarrassment
- dying of shame
- dying with excitement
- almost died of
- be overwhelmed
more formal; covers all emotions without the urgency
- be beside oneself
stronger; suggests losing control due to emotion
Grammar Patterns
be dying of/with + emotion (laughter, embarrassment, shame)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense verb/5 (WANT DESPERATELY): here the focus is on being overpowered by a feeling rather than wanting something. 'Dying of laughter' is very common in informal English.
Common Mistakes
7. to come to an end without achieving what was hoped for — used of plans, projects
to come to an end without achieving what was hoped for — used of plans, projects, dreams, or efforts that are completely unsuccessful.
The project died after the main investor decided to pull out.
subject: project — an effort or plan
Marta's dream of becoming a professional singer died when she lost her voice.
The peace talks died because neither side was willing to compromise.
The new restaurant died within six months of opening its doors.
die of a business: failed
- dream dies
- plan dies
- project dies
- talks die
- business dies
Grammar Patterns
die + (a death as a plan/project/idea)
Usage Note
This sense is close to verb/3 (STOP EXISTING) but specifically conveys failure — the plan or effort was meant to succeed but did not. Use 'fail' for a more neutral tone.
Common Mistakes
die down
phrasal verbto become gradually less strong, loud, noticeable, or active — used for wind, noise, excitement, controversy, or pain.
We waited until the storm died down before leaving the shelter.
The argument died down after both sides agreed to take a break.
die out
phrasal verbto become less and less common and eventually cease to exist altogether — used for species, customs, languages, or traditions.
Many local dialects have died out as younger generations speak the national language.
The species of turtle is dying out because its natural habitat is disappearing.
die off
phrasal verbto die one after another until there are few or none left — used for a group of living things (plants, animals, or people).
The older trees in the forest are dying off one by one due to the disease.
After the water source dried up, the fish in the lake began to die off.
die away
phrasal verbTo become gradually weaker and finally stop.
The sound of the music died away as the band left the stage.
Her anger died away after she heard his explanation.
die back
phrasal verbOf a plant, to die down to the ground but remain alive in the roots.
In winter, the rose bushes die back but grow again in spring.
The perennial plant died back after the first frost.
old habits die hard
idiomused to say that it is very difficult to stop doing something that you have been doing for a long time, especially a bad habit.
Defne still checks her work email every hour on holiday — old habits die hard.
I know I should stop biting my nails, but old habits die hard.
never say die
idioman expression of encouragement, meaning 'do not give up hope' or 'keep trying, no matter how difficult the situation.'
The team was losing by four goals, but the coach told them never say die.
Lina's attitude has always been: never say die, keep fighting until the end.
to die for
idiomextremely good, attractive, or desirable — used informally to praise something strongly.
The chocolate cake at that little French café is absolutely to die for.
Élise said the views from the mountain top were to die for.
do or die
idiomused to describe a situation in which you must make a very great effort to succeed because failure is not an option.
It was a do-or-die moment for the basketball player as he took the final shot.
The company is in a do-or-die situation — either we find new customers or we close.
used by children or in informal situations to emphasize that you are telling the absolute truth.
I did not take your notebook, cross my heart and hope to die.
Carlos promised he would keep the secret, cross his heart.
used to say that a large number of people or animals die, fall ill, or leave a place in a very short period of time.
During the flu season, students were dropping like flies and the school was half empty.
In the heatwave, runners were falling like flies before the finish line.
To want something or to do something very much.
Mia was dying for a cup of coffee after the long meeting.
Are you dying to see the new movie this weekend?
die a/the death
idiomTo fail completely.
The new restaurant died a death after only three months.
His plan to start a business died the death when funding fell through.
die in your bed
idiomTo die from old age or illness, not from violence or accident.
Grandfather lived a long life and died in his bed peacefully.
Most people hope to die in their bed when the time comes.
die laughing
idiomTo find something extremely funny.
Sara nearly died laughing at Diego's joke during lunch.
The comedian's performance made the audience die laughing.
To die or become ill in very large numbers.
In the heatwave, elderly people were dropping like flies.
During the flu season, students fell like flies in the dormitory.
Used to say that things change very slowly.
Old habits die hard; Brian still writes letters instead of emails.
Traditions die hard in this small village, even with modern influences.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All of these words mean 'to die,' but they differ in formality, tone, and context. 'Pass away' is the gentlest and most respectful choice, used when talking politely about someone's death ('My grandmother passed away last year'). 'Pass on' is also gentle, often used in spiritual contexts. 'Perish' is formal and dramatic, appearing in news reports or literature about tragic, violent death ('Hundreds perished in the earthquake'). 'Succumb to' is formal and always includes the cause ('He succumbed to his injuries'), commonly used in medical or official writing. 'Expire' is clinical, used in official documents or medical contexts ('The patient expired at 3:45 a.m.'). For everyday conversation, 'die' remains the most direct and neutral choice. To be polite, use 'pass away' instead.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'die' comes from Old English 'dīegan' (to die, to be dying), which traces back to Proto-Germanic '*dawjaną' (to die). This root is related to Old Norse 'deyja', Old Saxon 'dōian', and Old High German 'touwen'. The Germanic root goes further back to Proto-Indo-European '*dʰew-', meaning 'to pass away' or 'to die'. The noun 'die' (mold/stamping tool) has a completely separate history — it comes from Latin 'datum' (given) via Old French 'de' and entered English in the 1700s with the meaning of a stamping tool. The game-piece 'die' (plural 'dice') also comes from Latin 'datum' (given, referring to the 'given' random number), entering English from Old French 'dé'.