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Definitions

decay

[dih-key] / dɪˈkeɪ /




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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“The first step was to understand the extent of the decay the house had endured,” as Jacobs recalled.

From MarketWatch Sep. 9, 2026

They are released when excited atomic nuclei lose energy and move into lower, more stable states during radioactive decay.

From Science Daily Aug. 21, 2026

Symbols of neglect and urban decay abound in artist Sayre Gomez’s “Precious Moments” at David Kordansky Gallery, on view through March 1.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 20, 2026

They include food shortages, water contamination, plumbing stoppages, lost mail, and mental health decay, spurring some crew members to jump ship.

From Slate Aug. 19, 2026

The whole place carries the smell of unwashed bodies and tobacco smoke with a faint air of decay.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

When tritium decays, the neutrino carries away some energy, which slightly alters the energy pattern of the emitted electrons.

From Science Daily Dec. 27, 2025

It contains radium that decays into radon gas, which is radioactive and can cause cancer.

From Barron's Oct. 10, 2025

Keeping the truth from someone might not be outright dishonesty, but it’s a rot that decays the same way, just festering at a slower pace.

From Salon Apr. 18, 2025

In short, it's a scenario in which the universe continues to both expand and cool - while everything within it dies off, decays, and fades away.

From BBC Oct. 31, 2024

Then the galactic astronomers are out of business, the stars cool and die, matter itself decays and the universe becomes a thin cold haze of elementary particles.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

To investigate the mystery, the researchers measured gamma rays produced as a radioactive copper isotope decayed into zinc.

From Science Daily Aug. 21, 2026

Yet, despite this surge of security personnel, basic living conditions have only decayed.

From Slate Aug. 11, 2026

“Remote and hybrid work used to be a privilege, but its benefits over in-person work have decayed across the board,” Chris Martin, senior economist at Glassdoor, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch Jun. 27, 2026

Greiff points out baby heather plants nearby now able to grow in gaps left by decayed moss.

From BBC May 30, 2026

By then all the stars will have burned out and the protons and neutrons in them will probably have decayed into light particles and radiation.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

Muons survive for only about 2.2 microseconds before decaying.

From Science Daily Sep. 18, 2026

"The smell is like decaying wood being burned – that's the characteristic smell of peat. And that peat contains decomposed wood and organic material from many different sources."

From BBC Sep. 6, 2026

From Boyle Heights to Monterey Park, residents said they were overwhelmed by the smoke from the week-long fire, and then tormented by the horrible stench from decaying meat and seafood.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 6, 2026

When the local economy began declining in the 1970s, the store closed its doors and sat abandoned and decaying.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 4, 2026

The decaying human form cannot sustain the power of spirit for long.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older




Vocabulary lists containing decay


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