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to die away

to die away

8 4.2
To become quieter and then stop
  • phrasal verb
  • /daɪ əˈweɪ/
translation icon : desvanecerse
  • A dog barked in the distance, a long staccato peal that died away with jarring sharpness.
  • the voice dies away
  • the sound died away
  • gradually die away

This is the unity in which the accent dies away.

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Examples

  • As the last notes of the hymn died away, though, Caudell looked around in puzzlement.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Then the light dies away, and the animal moves on as though nothing has happened.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • And if I just play one note, you can hear that it dies away very quickly.

  • But the cheers die away soon, too soon; more than a few cut off by tears.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The sounds of his pursuers dropped further and further back and presently died away altogether.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The dawn chorus of rainforest birds has died away, leaving behind a pronounced calm.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The familiar sounds of birds and insects died away, fading into an expectant hush.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The sound of the waves gradually die away as the tide recedes.

  • As the music played on, its notes slowly die away into silence.

  • Over time, the pain from the injury will die away and you'll feel normal again.

Synonyms

to die
vsto die away
840 4.8

To stop being felt, as a feeling or idea

stresses gradual weakening over time rather than immediate or absolute ending
to fade
vsto die away
531 1.2

To slowly become less visible, bright, or loud

covers gradual weakening and disappearance especially for sounds and feelings
to wear off
vsto die away
93 4.0

An effect or feeling that becomes less strong and then stops

refers to gradual loss of strength until the sensation or effect ends
to dwindle
vsto die away
72 5.1

To become smaller or less in number over time

is used more for gradual loss of strength or presence rather than counts
to fade away
vsto die away
69 3.0

To become weaker and then disappear over time

is used broadly for gradual ending of sounds, feelings, and effects
to let up
vsto die away
54 3.8

To become less strong, especially for bad weather, pain, or pressure

is neutral and applies to many cases beyond unpleasant conditions
to dissipate
vsto die away
48 6.8

To make something spread out and disappear, for example fog or tension

describes quiet, natural fading rather than disappearance caused by scattering
to subside
vsto die away
47 4.8

Become less strong, as with pain, noise, or excitement

focuses on gradual fading until disappearance rather than sudden intensity change
to die out
vsto die away
47 3.7

To stop existing over time, for example animals or traditions

focuses on gradual loss of strength or presence, not species extinction
to die down
vsto die away
46 2.7

To become less strong or loud over time

is broader, used for gradual ending of sounds, feelings, and effects
to evaporate
vsto die away
38 4.1

Gradually become less strong until a feeling is gone

is focused on gradual fading that applies to sounds, feelings, or effects
to recede
vsto die away
29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

emphasizes gradual loss of strength rather than physical backward movement
to abate
vsto die away
23 6.8

To become less strong or severe and to make something do the same

is about natural gradual fading rather than deliberate reduction by action
to fall away
vsto die away
19 4.3

To become less in amount or quality

is more focused on gradual loss of strength or presence than on measures
to fade out
vsto die away
15 3.9

Gradually become harder to see or quieter until it disappears

describes general weakening and ending, not only visible or audible loss
to decay
vsto die away
  • Specialized
14 6.3

To lose electrical charge or current slowly over time

applies broadly to sounds, feelings, and effects rather than technical processes
to pass away
vsto die away
12 3.5

To slowly disappear or stop existing

is used for fading feelings or sounds rather than general cessation of existence
to peter out
vsto die away
9 5.6

To slowly become weaker and then stop

implies a slow ending that finishes completely, whereas the other is broader
to drop away
vsto die away
2 3.3

To become less over time

relates to levels or amounts rather than weakening of sounds or feelings
to dwindle away
vsto die away
1 4.6

Slowly get smaller in number or amount until nothing remains

focuses on loss of size or number rather than on weakening of feelings or sounds
to ebb away
vsto die away
1 5.6

To move back slowly, like water leaving a shore

uses simple fading sense rather than physical flowing back imagery
to pass off
vsto die away
3.9

To become less strong over time

is more general and not limited to unpleasant feelings or situations
to evanesce
vsto die away
  • Literature
9.9

To disappear slowly like mist

is a common word for gradual fading without the literary tone of the other term

Antonyms

1.0

To make something larger or more in number

110 4.0

Make something stronger or more intense

How Strong

to vanish
421 3.0
to die away
8 4.2
to fade
531 1.2

Surface Forms

die away infinitive
died away past
died away past participle
dying away present participle
dies away third person singular

Morphology

die + away

The meaning 'to gradually become less strong and disappear' is directly derivable from 'die' (to fade or stop) combined with 'away' (to disappear/fade out); both constituents contribute transparently to the sense of gradual fading. This verb+particle composition is a common, predictable pattern cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

The phrasal verb die away uses the image of something that dies and goes away, like a voice or a fire that gets quieter or smaller until it is gone. That's why it means 'to gradually become less strong and eventually disappear'.