English Reference
verb · noun

rot

v. · n.
US /ˈɹɑt/ UK /ɹˈɒt/ rot

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    v.to break down or decay naturally, usually because of bacteria or fungi.

    v.to undergo decomposition through biological action. Intransitive or transitive use.

    Simple

    The fallen apples began to rot on the damp ground after the storm.

    In context

    If the timber is not treated with a waterproof sealant, the constant exposure to moisture will cause the structural beams to rot within a few years.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Informal

    v.to stay in an unpleasant place or situation for a very long time.

    v.to suffer or languish in a state of neglect or confinement over a prolonged period.

    Simple

    He felt like he was rotting in that boring office job with no chance of promotion.

    In context

    The political prisoner was left to rot in a damp cell for a decade before the international community intervened.

    languishwaste away
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the state of decaying, or the part of something that has decayed.

    n.the process of decomposition or the resulting decayed matter itself.

    Simple

    The smell of rot coming from the old wooden boat was overwhelming.

    In context

    The surveyor identified significant dry rot in the floorboards, suggesting that the property had been poorly maintained for decades.

    decompositionputrefaction
  4. 04 C1 Advanced British EnglishInformal

    n.silly talk or ideas that are not true.

    n.verbal nonsense or worthless ideas. Uncountable in this sense.

    Simple

    Don't listen to him; he's talking absolute rot about the new manager.

    In context

    The editorial dismissed the politician's latest economic proposal as pure rot, arguing that the figures were entirely fabricated.

For every post promoting self-harm, there’s another focused on mental well-being; for every piece of brain rot, there’s something educational, joyful, even transcendent.

Smithsonian Magazine· 17 Aug 2026

Families, Jaycee comes to believe, are “dangerous places … like nests of poisonous spiders, huddled in dark, undisturbed corners, their venom, a single drop enough to rot the body inside out”.

The Guardian· 6 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Frequent
Updated