CEFR B2

decay

verb/noun

Meaning

To rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi; to decline or deteriorate gradually.

Examples

The abandoned house was left to decay, its walls crumbling and windows broken.
Without proper preservation, historical artifacts will inevitably decay over time.

Synonyms: rot, decompose, deteriorate, decline

Learn English that separates you from the crowd with Anaversity: private classes, Ani practice, Campus tools, and a public English-learning community.

decay (B2)

verb/noun

Pronunciation: /dɪˈkeɪ/

Definition

To rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi; to decline or deteriorate gradually.

Examples

The abandoned house was left to decay, its walls crumbling and windows broken.
Without proper preservation, historical artifacts will inevitably decay over time.
His once-sharp mind began to decay after the illness, leading to memory loss.

How to Use decay

decay of (prepositional phrase): The process of deterioration or decomposition affecting something. — "The decay of the ancient manuscript was a great loss."
decay into (prepositional phrase): To gradually change or become something worse. — "The peaceful protest began to decay into violence."

Synonyms of decay

Words with a similar meaning to decay:

Antonyms of decay

Words with the opposite meaning to decay:

Browse the full Anaversity dictionary