to die out
47
3.7
- phrasal verb
- /daɪ aʊt/
:
extinguirse
- Many species of plants and animals die out when their natural habitats are destroyed.
- species die out
- die out over time
- die out completely
What else is going to die out about the family?
- What else is going to die out about the family?
- So the fusion process is, you know, dying out, those kinds of dying stars.
- Eventually what happens is the demonstrations die out.
- And what happened was the center completely died out.
- However, even after those stars that regularly form die out, there's still a chance to make new stars.
- So some people concerned about overpopulation, some people concerned about us dying out as a human species.
Examples
-
Some of those lifestyles have since become illegal or simply died out, but others remain.
Fiction book (2000) -
Without proper conservation efforts, these rare birds might die out within the next decade.
-
If we die out here, no one will ever find us.
-
And when they die out, so does the bar.
-
How tough it must have been to have an industry die out on you like that.
-
A whole world has just died out, and no one gives a damn about it.
Fiction book (2000) -
The last of the resistance will die out on its own.
-
Basis trading as an occupation nearly died out during these years.
Academic text (2017) -
Older relatives gradually either died out or moved to Florida as well.
Fiction book (1998) -
Iroquois settlement in the region died out in the 15th century.
Academic text (2006)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To stop being seen or to no longer be there
840
4.8
To stop being felt, as a feeling or idea
69
3.0
To become weaker and then disappear over time
21
5.8
Plants or animals gradually become fewer until none remain
15
4.5
Stop existing as a kind of animal, plant, or language
12
3.5
To slowly disappear or stop existing
9
5.6
To slowly become weaker and then stop
8
4.2
To become quieter and then stop
2
8.6
To stop being used and disappear completely
1
4.6
Slowly get smaller in number or amount until nothing remains
1
8.2
People stop using something because new things replace it
To stop working or to die after a long time of getting worse
Antonyms
How Numerous
241
3.2
- US
75
4.3
439
3.9
72
5.1
21
5.8
47
3.7
15
4.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to become extinct/cease to exist' is directly derivable from 'die' (to cease living) plus the particle 'out', which in phrasal verbs commonly indicates completion or cessation, so the combined sense is predictable. This verb+out composition is a regular, cross-linguistically supported pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Die out comes from a simple image: imagine a light or a small fire that slowly dies and finally goes out, leaving nothing left. So, when animals, languages, or customs die out, they slowly 'stop existing' or become 'extinct'.