MEANING
1. To die, especially in a formal, literary, or report-like description of a person’s death.
2. To end or cease to be valid at a stated time, as a permit, agreement, or period.
Use it for
A formal or restrained word for dying.Describe a death in a restrained, formal, or old-fashioned narrative voice.
Words that belong together
- expire peacefully
- expire from an illness
- expire before help arrives
- permit expires
- contract expires
- deadline expires
On the page
The old dog expired beside the stove as the storm passed.
Her passport expired before the family reached the airport.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- expire
- Past tense
- expired
- Past participle
- expired
- Present participle
- expiring
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- expire
- Present continuous
- am/is/are expiring
- Present perfect
- have/has expired
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been expiring
- Past
- expired
- Past continuous
- was/were expiring
- Past perfect
- had expired
- Past perfect continuous
- had been expiring
- Future
- will expire
- Future continuous
- will be expiring
- Future perfect
- will have expired
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been expiring
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
The death sense is formal or euphemistic; it differs from a permit or agreement expiring at the end of its term. Sense 2: This sense is neutral and intransitive; the subject is usually a term, document, offer, or right.
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