1 C1 neutral
To decay until a hole forms or the material is completely penetrated by rot.
"The wooden hull had rotted through, letting water pour into the boat."
inseparable
rot through
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To decay so severely that a hole appears or structural integrity is completely lost.
In plain English
To go so rotten that it breaks open or falls apart all the way through.
What does "rot through" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To become so decayed that the entire structure or substance is compromised.
"The old attic floorboards had rotted through after years of roof leaks."
inseparable
Usage tip
Implies complete penetration of decay, not just surface deterioration. Often used in contexts of structural inspection — roofing, flooring, wooden furniture. Less common than 'rot away' or 'rot off'.
Words that pair with "rot through"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
floorboards roof hull beam planks pipe
How to conjugate "rot through"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
rot through
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rots through
he/she/it
Past simple
roted through
yesterday
Past participle
roted through
have + pp
-ing form
roting through
continuous
Hear "rot through" in the wild
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