die away
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to become quieter and quieter until you cannot hear it anymore.
to fade gradually into silence; used primarily of auditory stimuli.
Simple“We stood on the platform and watched the train disappear as the sound of its engine died away.”
In context“The thunderous applause began to die away only after the conductor stepped off the podium and the house lights were raised.”
UsageThis phrasal verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to slowly become weaker or less intense until it stops.
to gradually lose strength, intensity, or momentum until reaching a state of cessation.
Simple“Her anger slowly died away as she realized he was telling the truth.”
In context“The initial excitement surrounding the new policy died away once the staff realized how much extra paperwork it would require.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'fade' is more common in everyday speech for feelings, 'die away' adds a more dramatic or literary tone to the description.
contrast with 'die down', which suggests a reduction in excitement or activity (like a fire or a storm) rather than a total disappearance of sound.