rot

verb

ˈrät 

rotted; rotting

intransitive verb

1

a

: to undergo decomposition from the action of bacteria or fungi

b

: to become unsound or weak (as from use or chemical action)

2

a

: to go to ruin : deteriorate

left to rot in jail

b

: to become morally corrupt : degenerate

transitive verb

: to cause to decompose or deteriorate with or as if with rot

Too much candy will rot your teeth.

Synonyms of rot

• deteriorate
• crumble
• worsen
• descend
• decline

Choose the Right Synonym for rot

decay, decompose, rot, putrefy, spoil mean to undergo destructive dissolution.

decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods.

keep the ham from spoiling

Examples of rot in a Sentence

The wood had rotted away.

The apples were left to rot.

the smell of rotting garbage

Eating too much candy can rot your teeth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hotel Lucia is best-suited for the city explorers and culturally curious—travelers who like to get out and about and get around by foot, not rot in their rooms all day. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Protects the wood from moisture, reducing the risk of issues caused by moisture, like rot, decay, or structural failure. —Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 2 June 2026

Police continued searching the home and found rat and mouse feces throughout, rotting food on the kitchen counter covered with flies and other bugs, and maggots in standing water in the kitchen sink. —Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026

Parents used to tell their children that television rots the brain; now it’s considered a medium for legitimate art. —New York Times, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English roten, from Old English rotian; akin to Old High German rōzzēn to rot

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing rot

• bit rot
• black rot
• brain rot
• brown rot
• dry rot
• ear rot
• foot rot
• left to rot in jail/prison
• noble rot
• root rot
• soft rot
• stop the rot
• the rot sets in

Rhymes for rot

• aught
• baht
• blot
• bott
• bought
• brought
• caught
• clot
• cot
• cott
• dot
• fought

Kids Definition

rot

1 of 2 verb

ˈrät 

rotted; rotting

1

a

: to decay due to the action of fungi or bacteria

b

: to become unsafe or weak (as from use or chemical action)

2

: to go to ruin

3

: to cause to rot

rot

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the process of rotting : the state of being rotten

b

: something rotten or rotting

2

a

: a disease of plants or animals marked by the decay of tissue

b

: an area of decayed tissue

pruned the rot from the tree trunk

3

: nonsense sense 1

don't talk rot

Medical Definition

rot

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈrät 

rotted; rotting

: to undergo decomposition from the action of bacteria or fungi

rot

2 of 2 noun

1

: the process of rotting : the state of being rotten

2

: any of several parasitic diseases especially of sheep marked by necrosis and wasting