What does "perish" mean?
To decay and disappear; to waste away to nothing.
Perish
/ˈpɛɹɪʃ/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To decay and disappear; to waste away to nothing.
- Grammar: perish is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: die, expire, pass away, age.
- Useful contrasts: living term, living term example, living things.
- Usage evidence: We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools.
How to use "perish"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "perish" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "perish" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "perish" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "perish" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "perish" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "die" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "perish", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To decay and disappear; to waste away to nothing. intransitive
"1881, Tarafa, translated by W. A. Clouston, The Poem of Tarafa I consider time as a treasure decreasing every night; and that which every day diminishes soon perishes for ever."
- 2 pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life wordnet
- 3 To decay in such a way that it cannot be used for its original purpose intransitive
"The difficulty is that fresh foods perish due to the multiplication in them of harmful bacteria."
- 4 To die; to cease to live. intransitive
"When it goeth well with the righteous, the citie reioyceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting."
- 5 To cause to perish. obsolete, transitive
"that closeness did impair and a little perish his understanding"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
living termliving term exampleliving thingsmost living
Example
"We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "perish"?
Common synonyms include: die, expire, pass away, age, antiquate, be annihilated.
How do you use "perish" in a sentence?
We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools.
How do you pronounce "perish"?
Pronounced /ˈpɛɹɪʃ/.
Etymology
From Middle English perishen, borrowed from Old French perir (via the stem periss- used in various conjugations), from Latin perīre (“pass away, perish”), from per (“through”) + īre (“pass, go”).