perish Definition
- 1to die, especially in a sudden violent way
- 2to be destroyed, especially by fire, flood, or other natural disasters
Using perish: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "perish" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Many people perished in the earthquake.
Example
The food will perish if it's not refrigerated.
Example
The ancient city was destroyed and perished under the sands of time.
Example
The company will perish if it doesn't adapt to the changing market.
perish Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with perish
Example
The government let the economy perish due to their poor policies.
Example
Perish the thought that we should ever have to live without electricity!
Example
Many climbers have perished in the attempt to climb Mount Everest.
Origins of perish
from Old French 'perir', from Latin 'perire', meaning 'to go through, perish'
Summary: perish in Brief
The verb 'perish' [ˈperɪʃ] means to die suddenly or violently, or to be destroyed by natural disasters. It can also refer to the decay or expiration of food. Examples include 'Many people perished in the earthquake,' and 'The food will perish if it's not refrigerated.' The phrase 'let perish' means to allow something to die or be destroyed, while 'perish the thought' is used to express the hope that something will never happen.