dead on arrival
idiom
: having died before getting to a hospital, emergency room, etc.
The victim was dead on arrival at the hospital.
—often used figurativelySome are saying that any new tax proposal would be dead on arrival.
Examples of dead on arrival in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Beebe was able to pull the unresponsive victim from underwater and out of the boat, they were pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital.
—
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
The two-minute warning hit next, just enough time for the 72,000 in attendance to gawk at the creativity and daring Maye had mustered to revive a play that was dead on arrival.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Among those brought to the medical group were two men who were already dead on arrival, another man who died while being transferred, 10 women — one of whom died en route to the charity’s trauma hospital in Tabarre — and three children who did not survive their injuries.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
The movie star was rushed to Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead on arrival
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Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
The two-minute warning hit next, just enough time for the 72,000 in attendance to gawk at the creativity and daring Maye had mustered to revive a play that was dead on arrival.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Among those brought to the medical group were two men who were already dead on arrival, another man who died while being transferred, 10 women — one of whom died en route to the charity’s trauma hospital in Tabarre — and three children who did not survive their injuries.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
The movie star was rushed to Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead on arrival
Cite this Entry
“Dead on arrival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20on%20arrival. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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