perish
B2Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
to die or be destroyed, especially in a violent or untimely manner.
to deteriorate or come to an end; to suffer ruin or destruction; (of rubber, food, etc.) to decay or lose quality; (archaic) to suffer spiritual death.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used for living things, especially people and animals, but can be extended to materials, hopes, or abstract concepts. Often implies a negative, painful, or undesired end. In the phrase 'perish the thought', it's used as a negative imperative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The phrase 'perish the thought' is slightly more common in British English.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same formal/literary connotation. In American English, its use outside specific phrases (e.g., 'perishables') can sound slightly more archaic or dramatic.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English, partly due to its presence in formal/news contexts (e.g., 'perished in the fire').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + perish (intransitive)Subject + perish + from/of + causePerish + NP (in imperative, e.g., 'Perish the thought!)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “perish the thought”
- “publish or perish”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in 'perishable goods' referring to items like food with a short shelf life.
Academic
Used in historical/literary texts; also in the phrase 'publish or perish' referring to academic pressure.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual speech. Mostly heard in news reports or formal writing about deaths in disasters.
Technical
Used in materials science or food science to describe degradation (e.g., 'the rubber perished').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Many brave soldiers perished on the Somme.
- The ancient manuscript perished in the library fire.
- Without water, the plants will perish.
American English
- Early settlers often perished during the harsh winters.
- The rubber seals had perished and needed replacement.
- Perish the thought of us giving up now!
adverb
British English
- The fruit was perishably packaged. (rare)
- The goods were stored perishably. (rare)
American English
- This material degrades perishably. (rare)
- The data was held perishably. (rare)
adjective
British English
- 'Perishable' items must be refrigerated.
- The cargo included perishable foodstuffs.
American English
- Store perishables in the cooler.
- They dealt in perishable commodities.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Flowers perish without water.
- Food can perish in the heat.
- Many animals perished in the forest fire.
- The old leather had perished and cracked.
- Historians believe the expedition perished from a combination of starvation and extreme cold.
- If the peace process fails, our hopes for cooperation may perish altogether.
- The philosopher argued that a society which abandons its core values is doomed to perish from within.
- The archive, containing irreplaceable cultural records, perilously neared perishing due to neglect.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PEAR that ROTTISHes (perishes) and dies. The word sounds like 'perish' and connects to decay.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY (to perish is to end the journey); FAILURE IS DEATH (e.g., 'our hopes perished').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'погибнуть' (which is correct) and 'портиться' (to spoil/go bad). 'Perish' for objects implies complete destruction, not just becoming stale.
- Avoid using 'perish' for natural, peaceful death; it's too strong. Use 'die' instead.
- The phrase 'perish the thought' is idiomatic and does not translate literally.
Common Mistakes
- Using it transitively (e.g., 'The disease perished him' - incorrect).
- Using it for ordinary death ('My grandfather perished last year' - too dramatic/unnatural).
- Confusing spelling with 'cherish'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'perish' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively formal and literary. In everyday speech, 'die', 'be killed', or 'go bad' (for food) are more common.
It is an exclamation used to express the hope that something will not happen or is not true. It means 'May that idea be destroyed' or 'I strongly hope that isn't the case'.
Yes, but it implies complete destruction or becoming useless, often through decay or exposure (e.g., 'The tyres had perished in the sun'). It's not used for simple breakage.
'Perish' is more formal, dramatic, and often implies a violent, untimely, or unfortunate death, frequently in a group or disaster context. 'Die' is the neutral, all-purpose term.