Word
perish
Phoneticsper·ish, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɛɹɪʃ/
UK/pˈɛɹɪʃ/
Definitions
01to die
C1 · Advanced Formal · Literary
v. to die, especially in a sudden, violent, or accidental way.
v. to die or be destroyed, typically through violence, accident, or exposure to harsh conditions.
“Sadly, many animals perish in the forest fires every summer.”
“The historical record suggests that thousands of soldiers perished during the long retreat across the frozen plains.”
02to rot or decay
C1 · Advanced British English
v. to rot or break because of age or bad conditions, especially rubber or food.
v. to suffer physical decay or lose structural integrity, commonly used in reference to organic matter or rubber.
“The rubber seals on the old windows had perished over the years.”
“If the fruit is not stored at the correct temperature, it will perish within a matter of days.”
Antonyms
Usage
Intransitive — does not take a direct object. Often followed by the preposition 'in' or 'from'.
Pitfall
The fire perished many people
Many people perished in the fire
Perish is intransitive; it cannot take a direct object. The cause of death is usually introduced with a preposition.
Real-World Examples
“More than 36,000 people perished, the majority in devastating tsunamis that raced outward from the colossal explosion.” “Twenty-seven crew members perished, and the wreck vanished until it was discovered in 2016, nearly 100 years later, by Danish diver Gert Normann Andersen.” 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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/perish