rot away
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To go bad and fall apart little by little, like old wood or food left out.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
Of organic material: to decompose gradually until nothing remains.
"The fallen tree had been rotting away in the forest for decades."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
Figuratively, to decline or deteriorate slowly and completely.
"He felt he was just rotting away in that dead-end job with no future."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Typically used of organic materials (wood, leaves, teeth, flesh). Can be used figuratively to describe institutions or relationships declining slowly. The 'away' particle emphasises total or near-total destruction.
Commonly used with
wood teeth leaves body timber foundations
Forms
Base
rot away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rots away
he/she/it
Past simple
roted away
yesterday
Past participle
roted away
have + pp
-ing form
roting away
continuous
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