What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
die
Example
My grandfather died peacefully in his sleep. [die: verb]
Example
The fish died after being out of water for too long. [died: past tense]
Example
The battery in my phone died, and I had to recharge it. [died: past tense]
perish
Example
Many people perished in the earthquake that struck the city. [perished: past tense]
Example
The library's rare books perished in the fire. [perished: past tense]
Example
The dinosaurs perished millions of years ago. [perished: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Die is more commonly used than perish in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between die and perish?
Perish is more formal than die and is often used in written or academic contexts.
