perish

verb

per·​ish ˈper-ish How to pronounce perish (audio)
ˈpe-rish
perished; perishing; perishes
Synonyms of perish

intransitive verb

1
: to become destroyed or ruined : cease to exist
… recollection of a past already long since perished.—Philip Sherrard
guard against your mistakes or your attempts (perish the thought) to cheat—C. B. Davis
2
chiefly British : deteriorate, spoil

transitive verb

1
chiefly British : to cause to die : destroy
2
: weaken, benumb

Synonyms of perish

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Examples of perish in a Sentence

Two people perished in the fire. The sailors perished at sea. The civilization perished after 500 years. Many ancient languages have perished over time. The rubber will perish with age.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One camper perished in her cabin. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 23 June 2026 And that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 The names of those who perished were being withheld by authorities pending notification of relatives. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 21 June 2026 The pallor of mortality is a reminder, for some, of the heat wave in the summer of 2003, when nearly fifteen thousand people perished in France. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for perish

Word History

Etymology

Middle English perisshen, from Anglo-French periss-, stem of perir, from Latin perire, from per- detrimentally + ire to go — more at per-, issue entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of perish was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing perish

Rhymes for perish

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Browse Nearby Words

periscopic
perish
perishability
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Cite this Entry

“Perish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

perish

verb
per·​ish ˈper-ish How to pronounce perish (audio)
: to pass away completely : become destroyed

More from Merriam-Webster on perish

Nglish: Translation of perish for Spanish Speakers

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