perish

/ˈperɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈperɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈper-ish ˈpe-rish/ (ame, mw)

perish — verb

  • perishpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • perisheshe / she / it
  • perishedpast simple
  • perishing-ing form

1. To stop living or to cease to exist, especially in a way that is sudden, violent

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

To stop living or to cease to exist, especially in a way that is sudden, violent, or involves large-scale destruction — for example, people dying in a disaster, animals in a harsh environment, or a whole civilisation being wiped out.

例句

Hundreds of villagers perished when the river flooded their valley without warning.

adverb of manner: 'perished when [disaster struck]'

Lin Wei's great-grandfather perished during the famine that swept the region in the 1940s.

同義詞
  • die

    The ordinary neutral word; perish is more formal and implies violence or disaster

  • be killed

    Focuses on the cause; perish can also cover destruction of objects or abstract things

  • succumb to

    Suggests dying from a disease or pressure, often after a struggle; more specific than perish

反義詞
  • survive

    To continue living when others die or when conditions are dangerous

  • endure

    To last or continue to exist over time, the opposite of being destroyed

文法句型

perish + adverb/prepositional phrase

用法筆記

More formal and dramatic than die. Used in news reports, historical accounts, and literature rather than everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌His cat perished of old age at home.
✅His cat died of old age at home.
💡Perish suggests a sudden or violent end; for peaceful death at home, use die.
❌The flowers perished because I forgot to water them.
✅The flowers died because I forgot to water them.
💡Perish is too dramatic for everyday plant death.

2. When a material such as rubber, leather, plastic, or fabric perishes, it gradual

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

When a material such as rubber, leather, plastic, or fabric perishes, it gradually becomes weak, cracked, stiff, or broken because of age, weather, or chemical change.

例句

The rubber seal on Javier's refrigerator had perished and no longer kept the cold air inside.

time: 'had perished' (past perfect, completed state)

After ten years in the garage, the leather seats had perished and were covered in cracks.

同義詞
  • decay

    More general; can apply to organic matter too, while perish is specific to manufactured materials

  • deteriorate

    More neutral and gradual; perish implies cracking or breaking

  • rot

    Usually for organic material (wood, food); perish is for synthetic or treated materials

反義詞
  • last

    To remain in good condition over time

  • withstand

    To resist damage from weather or age

文法句型

material + perish

material + is perished (passive state)

用法筆記

This sense is more common in British English than American English. American speakers typically use rot, deteriorate, or dry-rot instead for materials.

常見錯誤

❌The old bread had perished in the cupboard.
✅The old bread had gone mouldy in the cupboard.
💡Perish is for manufactured materials like rubber/leather, not for food.
❌My phone battery perished after two years.
✅My phone battery wore out / died after two years.
💡Modern electronic degradation is not described with perish.