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Definition of dye
dye
/daɪ/
dye
Plural:dyes
•Past Simple:dyed
•Past Participle:dyed
•Present Participle:dyeing
dye Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
5
Tier
1
Usage
Top 5k
dye Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A natural or synthetic substance used to add color to or change the color of textiles, hair, wood, or other materials.
Example
"She used a vibrant blue dye to transform her old cotton shirt."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for dye• verb
1
To add a color to or change the color of something by soaking it in a colored solution.
Example
"He decided to dye his hair bright green for the charity event."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for dye Antonyms
View all antonyms for dyeWord Nuance & Usage
The word 'dye' and its present participle 'dyeing' are frequently confused with their homophones 'die' and 'dying' (referring to the cessation of life).
• Rhymes for dye
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'dēag' (color, hue, dye) and 'dēagian' (to dye). Its deeper origin outside of Germanic languages remains uncertain.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dye. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dye