perish

intransitive-verb
UK: /ˈper.ɪʃ/
US: /ˈper.ɪʃ/

  1. To die, especially in a sudden or violent way.

    1. The sailors perished in the storm
    2. Many valuable works of art perished in the great fire that swept through the museum

  2. To be destroyed or ruined.

    1. Without water, the plants will perish quickly
    2. Hopes for a peaceful resolution perished as the conflict escalated rapidly in the region

  3. To suffer greatly; to be in extreme hardship or distress.

    1. They almost perished from the cold weather
    2. Without the needed supplies, the stranded travelers will perish from the exposure

Synonyms

die wither demise decease decay expire vanish
perish transitive-verb

  1. To cause to die or be destroyed.

    1. The invaders perished the inhabitants of the town
    2. The king ordered the traitors to perish to send a strong message to others

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "perish" in English means: To die, especially in a sudden or violent way., To be destroyed or ruined., To suffer greatly; to be in extreme hardship or distress..

The phonetic transcription of "perish" is /ˈper.ɪʃ/ in British English and /ˈper.ɪʃ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "perish": die, wither, demise, decease, decay, expire, vanish.

Example usage of "perish": "The sailors perished in the storm". More examples on the page.