Word
deathbed
US/ˈdɛθˌbɛd/
UK/dˈɛθbɛd/
Literary
Definition
n. the bed where a person who is dying lies. It is often used to describe the final moments of someone's life.
n. the bed on which a person who is dying lies. Often used figuratively to refer to the final hours or moments of a person's life.
Examples
“He made a promise on his deathbed.”
“The old man spent his final days on his deathbed, surrounded by family and friends.”
“The dying patient's final words were a request for privacy, a quiet moment of dignity on his deathbed that his family respected deeply.”
Examples
simple
“He made a promise on his deathbed.”
contextual
“The old man spent his final days on his deathbed, surrounded by family and friends.”
complex
“The dying patient's final words were a request for privacy, a quiet moment of dignity on his deathbed that his family respected deeply.”
Real-World Examples
“Pamela Vander said: “They’re selling it as ‘the final album’ so people will think Mark made it on his deathbed, but none of it [vocally] was made after New Facts Emerge [2017].” Etymology
From Middle English dethbed, from Old English dēaþbedd (“deathbed; grave”), equivalent to death + bed. Cognate with Swedish dödsbädd (“deathbed”). Compare also Dutch sterfbed (“deathbed”), German Sterbebett and Totenbett (both “deathbed”), Danish dødsleje (“deathbed”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/deathbed