death
gb/dˈɛθ/ us/dˈɛθ/
A2
English
~ 500
halál, vég, bukás
NOUN
A2
1
halál
A2
Usage pattern:
the death of [someone/something]
The sudden death of the actor shocked fans around the world.
A színész hirtelen halála világszerte sokkolta a rajongókat.
Doctors are still investigating the cause of death.
Az orvosok még mindig vizsgálják a halál okát.
She has been grieving the death of her father for months.
War often brings unnecessary death and suffering.
The disease led to the death of thousands.
Learner examples
The death of my cat made me sad.
A macskám halála elszomorított.
They talked about the death of the king.
A király haláláról beszéltek.
Death comes to all living things.
He fears his own death.
We read about the death of a famous singer.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'death' (noun) with 'dead' (adjective) or 'die' (verb). For example, saying 'He had a dead' is incorrect; it should be 'He died' or 'He had a death in the family.'
Meaning
The end of a person's or animal's life
Collocations
sudden death
|cause of death
|death penalty
|near death
|tragic death
Synonyms
passing (A softer, more euphemistic term often used to talk about someone's death.)
Antonyms
birth (The beginning of life, the opposite of death.)
Themes
life
|health
|emotions
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a person, animal, or other living thing stops living forever.
The permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism.
NOUN
B1
2
halál
A2
Many cultures have different beliefs about what happens after death.
Sok kultúrában különböző elképzelések vannak arról, mi történik a halál után.
He looked pale, as if close to death.
Sápadtnak tűnt, mintha közel lenne a halálhoz.
She escaped certain death in the accident.
Learner examples
Some people believe in life after death.
Vannak, akik hisznek a halál utáni életben.
He was very close to death but survived.
Nagyon közel volt a halálhoz, de túlélte.
Death is part of nature.
Meaning
The condition of no longer being alive
Collocations
life and death
|after death
|face death
Synonyms
mortality (Refers to the fact that life is finite; more formal.)
Antonyms
life (The state of being alive.)
Themes
life
|philosophy
|health
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The condition when someone or something is not alive anymore.
The state in which a living thing is no longer alive.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
the death of [something]
Some say the internet means the death of traditional newspapers.
Egyesek szerint az internet a hagyományos újságok végét jelenti.
The scandal marked the political death of the senator.
A botrány a szenátor politikai bukását jelentette.
Critics fear this law could mean the death of free speech.
Learner examples
Many people talk about the death of books.
Sokan beszélnek a könyvek haláláról.
It was the death of their friendship.
Ez volt a barátságuk vége.
The new rule caused the death of the old system.
Meaning
The end or ruin of something
Collocations
death of democracy
|death of print media
Synonyms
collapse (Implies complete failure or breakdown.)
Antonyms
birth (Metaphorically refers to the start of something new.)
Themes
society
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When something ends forever, not a living thing but an idea, plan, or way of doing something.
The complete and irreversible end or destruction of something that is not alive, such as an idea, system, or activity.
Grammar
Dictionary form
death
IPA
GB/dˈɛθ/
US/dˈɛθ/
Syllables & stress
death (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (death)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: death
- Plural: death, deaths
Word family
Expressions
life and death
1/lˈaɪf ˈænd dˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
Extremely serious or dangerous situation
A situation that is very serious and could result in someone living or dying.
Examples
- Getting clean water to the village is a matter of life and death.
- In war, soldiers face life and death situations every day.
to death
1/tə dˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
informal
To an extreme extent, often unpleasantly so
Very much, until it is unpleasant or harmful.
Examples
- He was bored to death during the lecture.
- They froze to death in the cold.
at death's door
1/ˈæt dˈɛθs dˈɔɹ/
idiom
informal
Very close to dying
Very sick or injured and likely to die soon.
Examples
- After the accident, he was at death's door for weeks.
- She looked like she was at death's door with that flu.
at death's door
2/ˈæt dˈɛθs dˈɔɹ/
idiom
Very close to death
Very sick or almost dying.
Examples
- He was at death's door after the accident.
- The patient was at death's door but recovered.
death sentence
1/dˈɛθ sˈɛntəns/
fixed phrase
Official order to execute someone as punishment for a crime
When a court says someone must be killed as punishment for a crime.
Examples
- The judge handed down a death sentence for the murderer.
- The murderer received the death sentence after the trial.
- In some countries, drug trafficking carries a death sentence.
- Many countries have abolished the death sentence.
a fate worse than death
1/ə fˈeɪt wˈɚs ðən dˈɛθ/
idiom
literary
extremely bad imagined situation
A very bad situation that someone feels would be even worse than dying.
Examples
- For him, living without music would be a fate worse than death.
- For some prisoners, life in total isolation is a fate worse than death.
- She thought working for her ex-boss again would be a fate worse than death.
- He joked that going back to that job would be a fate worse than death.
- To her, losing her independence would be a fate worse than death.
a fate worse than death
2/ə fˈeɪt wˈɚs ðən dˈɛθ/
idiom
Something imagined to be worse than dying
A situation so bad that someone thinks dying would be better.
Examples
- For him, losing his freedom was a fate worse than death.
- She said working there would be a fate worse than death.