demise

verb de·mise \ di-ˈmīz \

Definition of demise

demised; demising

transitive verb

1 :to convey by will or lease

demise an estate

2 obsolete :convey, give

3 :to transmit by succession or inheritance

intransitive verb

1 :die, decease

2 :to pass by descent or bequest

the property has demised to the king's heirs

Examples of demise in a Sentence

our much beloved, recently demised leader

Origin and Etymology of demise

see ²demise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

demise Synonyms

Synonyms

check out, conk (out), croak [slang], decease, die, depart, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in [slang], kick off [slang], pass (on), pass away, part, peg out [chiefly British], perish, pop off, step out, succumb

Antonyms

breathe, live

Related Words

predecease; consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail

Near Antonyms

come to, revive; linger; be, exist, subsist; flourish, prosper, thrive

demise

noun de·mise \ di-ˈmīz \

Definition of demise

1 :the conveyance of an estate

2 :transfer of the sovereignty to a successor

3 a :death

b :a cessation of existence or activity

c :a loss of position or status

See demise defined for English-language learners

See demise defined for kids

Examples of demise in a Sentence

… invited visitors to play a game in which points are awarded to those who predict the demise of yet another overhyped dot-com. —Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 14 Sept. 2000
This elegant little book is essential reading for anyone interested in the demise, the terminal silliness, of our culture. —John Irving, New York Times Book Review, 6 Apr. 1997
Like books, board games appear headed for imminent demise at the hands of cathode-ray terminals. —Will Manley, Booklist, 1 Mar. 1995
She had no property at the time of her demise.
The musician met an untimely demise.
We have not had truly local news coverage since the town newspaper's demise three years ago.
Losing this game will mean the team's demise.

Recent Examples of demise from the Web

Read more on the CFA franc here Frying Pan On Twitter, the responses range from pictures of CFA notes in a frying pan to calls for the demise of the African elite that supports ties with France.

— pauline bax, Bloomberg.com, "Cash-Burning Activist Sets West Africa's Social Media on Fire," 29 Aug. 2017
Unlike Scaramucci, whose call to the New Yorker led to his quick political demise, Hicks is known for keeping herself out of the spotlight.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "Hope Hicks: What to Know About the Interim White House Communications Director," 28 Aug. 2017
The report did not, however, lay the demise of coal at the feet of renewable energy, and that is an important finding.

— rob nikolewski, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Federal report offers something for just about every energy source," 24 Aug. 2017
Perhaps the biggest blow to the Chicago grocery industry is the ongoing demise of the Central Grocers cooperative, which filed for bankruptcy in May after almost 100 years of business.

— ryan ori, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago's grocery list gets shorter: Fewer stores in area," 11 Aug. 2017
When Zayn Malik left One Direction on March 25, 2015, one of the greatest tragedies aside from the loss of his vocals was the demise of his friendship with Louis Tomlinson.

— eliza thompson, Cosmopolitan, "Hallelujah, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson Are Friends Again," 2 Aug. 2017
The tree cutting sparked outrage on social media before and after the Courier-Journal wrote about its demise.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "St. Matthews bank asked to make amends for cutting down 'irreplaceable' oak tree for parking lot," 31 July 2017
The number of electric vehicles, which breached 1m in 2015, last year reached 2m; countries like France and firms like Volvo are looking ahead to the demise of the internal combustion engine.

— The Economist, "Better to target zero emissions than 100% renewable energy," 13 July 2017
The store opened in 2011, but by mid-2015 real estate insiders were talking about the company's demise.

— rick kambic, chicagotribune.com, "Trampoline, indoor soccer facilities head toward approval in Vernon Hills," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'demise.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of demise

Middle English dimise, from Anglo-French demise, feminine of demis, past participle of demettre to dismiss, from Latin demittere to send down, from de- + mittere to send

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

demise Synonyms

Synonyms

curtains, decease, death, dissolution, doom, end, exit, expiration, expiry, fate, grave, great divide, passage, passing, quietus, sleep

Antonyms

birth, nativity

Related Words

casualty, fatality; martyrdom, self-destruction, self-murder, self-slaughter, suicide; annihilation, destruction, ending, extermination, ruin; assassination, execution, killing, massacre, slaughter

Near Antonyms

existence, life; creation, genesis, origination, rise

DEMISE Defined for English Language Learners

demise

noun

Definition of demise for English Language Learners

: an end of life
: the end of something that is thought of as being like a death

DEMISE Defined for Kids

demise

noun de·mise \ di-ˈmīz \

Definition of demise for Students

1 :death 1

And often the court waited until the demise of two or three potters before searching out their replacements.
—Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard

2 :an ending of existence or activity

the demise of a newspaper

Law Dictionary

demise

transitive verb de·mise \ di-ˈmīz \

legal Definition of demise

demised; demising

:to convey (possession of property) by will or lease

the demised premises

demise

noun

legal Definition of demise

1 :the conveyance of property by will or lease :lease

2 :the transmission of property by testate or intestate succession

3 :charter of a boat in which the owner surrenders completely the possession, command, and navigation of the boat — called also bareboat charter

Origin and Etymology of demise

Anglo-French, from feminine past participle of demettre to convey by lease, from Old French, to put down, give up, renounce, from Latin demittere to let fall and dimittere to release