deathbed

noun

death·​bed ˈdeth-ˌbed How to pronounce deathbed (audio)
1
: the bed in which a person dies
2
: the last hours of life
Phrases
on one's deathbed
: near the point of death

Examples of deathbed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These personal histories are brilliantly distilled in his biopic of Japanese terrorist Satoshi Kirishima, who, as one of the country’s most wanted men, successfully evaded capture for nearly 50 years before revealing his true identity on his deathbed. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025 Speculation about Hogan's health has been circulating on the Internet for weeks, with some saying the WWE legend was on his 'deathbed.' Who is Hulk Hogan's wife, Sky Daily? Daily, who was 25 years younger than Hogan, is a yoga instructor and accountant, according to her old Instagram bio. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025 Then, in perhaps the finest scene of his career, Cruise unearths the overwhelming pain at Mackey's core in a disarmingly honest breakdown at his father's deathbed. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025 One candidate claimed to have been endorsed by Hastings on his deathbed, but couldn’t prove it. David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for deathbed

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deathbed was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Deathbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deathbed. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

deathbed

noun
death·​bed -ˌbed How to pronounce deathbed (audio)
1
: the bed in which a person dies
2
: the last hours of life

Medical Definition

deathbed

noun
death·​bed ˈdeth-ˌbed How to pronounce deathbed (audio)
1
: the bed in which a person dies
2
: the last hours of life

More from Merriam-Webster on deathbed

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