def
gb/dɪf/ us/dɪf/
A2
English
~ 4400
meghal, elpusztul, tönkremegy, majd meghal, kikészül, alig vár, vágyik
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] dies
Many soldiers died during the war.
Her grandfather died last year.
The flowers died because they didn’t get enough water.
He died from a heart attack.
Several fish died after the tank's filter broke.
Learner examples
My dog died last week.
The plant died in the cold.
His father died two years ago.
Many birds died in the storm.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'die' with 'dead'. 'Die' is a verb (to stop living), while 'dead' is an adjective (not alive).
Meaning
Stop being alive
Collocations
die young
|die suddenly
|die peacefully
|die from [illness]
|die in [accident]
Synonyms
pass away (A softer, more polite way of saying 'die'.)
Antonyms
live (Opposite in meaning; to be alive.)
Themes
life
|death
|biology
|daily life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop living.
To cease to be alive; for a person, animal, or plant to stop living.
VERB
B1
2
tönkremegy
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] dies
My phone died in the middle of the call.
A hívás kellős közepén tönkrement a telefonom.
The car's engine died after 20 years of use.
Az autó motorja húsz évnyi használat után tönkrement.
The old computer finally died last week.
Learner examples
My phone died yesterday.
Tegnap tönkrement a telefonom.
The light died after five years.
A lámpa öt év után tönkrement.
Our car died on the road.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'die' with 'turn off', which can be temporary. 'Die' here means it will not work again without repair or replacement.
Meaning
Stop working forever
Collocations
phone died
|battery died
|engine died
Synonyms
break down (Implies mechanical failure, not necessarily permanent.)
Antonyms
work (To be functioning normally.)
Themes
technology
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a machine or device stops working forever.
For a machine, device, or system to stop working permanently.
VERB
B1
INFORMAL
3
majd meghal
B1
kikészül
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is dying [for/from something]
I'm dying of thirst after that run.
Attól a futástól majd szomjan halok.
She was dying from the heat in the crowded room.
Majd meghalt a melegtől a zsúfolt szobában.
We were dying for a break during the long meeting.
Learner examples
I am dying of hunger.
Majd éhen halok.
He is dying for water.
Majd szomjan hal.
They are dying from the hot sun.
Common mistake:
Learners may take this literally; it often exaggerates a feeling rather than describing actual death.
Meaning
Become extremely tired
Collocations
dying of hunger
|dying for a drink
|dying from exhaustion
Synonyms
collapse (Implies physically falling due to exhaustion.)
Antonyms
energize (To give energy or make less tired.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To feel very, very tired.
To feel extreme fatigue or exhaustion, often exaggerated for effect.
VERB
B1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] is dying to [verb] / dying for [something]
I'm dying to hear your news.
Alig várom, hogy elmeséld, mi újság veled.
She's dying for a cup of coffee.
Majd meghal egy csésze kávéért.
We're dying to go on vacation.
Learner examples
I am dying to eat pizza.
Alig várom, hogy pizzát ehessek.
She is dying for ice cream.
Majd meghal egy fagyiért.
We are dying to visit Paris.
Common mistake:
'Dying to' is followed by a verb; 'dying for' is followed by a noun. Learners sometimes mix these up.
Meaning
Want something very much
Collocations
dying to see you
|dying for chocolate
Synonyms
long for (More formal and emotional than 'dying for'.)
Antonyms
avoid (To stay away from something you might otherwise want.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To want something very much.
To want something very strongly, often expressed as 'dying for/to'.
Grammar
Dictionary form
def
IPA
GB/dɪf/
US/dɪf/
Syllables & stress
def (1 syllable)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: def
- 3rd Person Singular: defs
- Present Participle: defing
- Past: defed
- Past Participle: defed
Word family
Forms
defs
verb
defing
verb
defed
verb
Expressions
die out
1/dˈaɪ ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
become extinct or vanish over time
To slowly disappear until there are none left.
Examples
- Many species are dying out due to climate change.
- Many wild animals are dying out due to habitat loss.
- Old traditions sometimes die out over generations.
- This tradition has died out in most places.
never say die
1/nˈɛvɚ sˈeɪ dˈaɪ/
idiom
informal
keep trying despite difficulties
Do not give up hope or effort even when it is hard.
Examples
- It's a tough situation, but never say die!
- He has a never-say-die attitude on the field.
never say die
2/nˈɛvɚ sˈeɪ dˈaɪ/
idiom
informal
Keep trying despite problems
Keep trying and don't give up.
Examples
- Even after many failures, he had a never say die attitude.
- We have a never say die spirit on this team.
to die for
1/tə dˈaɪ fɚ/
idiom
informal
extremely attractive or desirable
Very good or beautiful; worth wanting a lot.
Examples
- Her chocolate cake is to die for.
- That view is absolutely to die for.
- That view from the mountain is to die for.