Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
       

wane

 
pronunciation:
weIn
parts of speech:
intransitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun)
part of speech: intransitive verb
inflections: wanes, waning, waned
definition 1: of the moon, to gradually decrease in the size of the portion that is illuminated, as seen from the earth. (Cf. wax2).
As the moon wanes, it appears to become smaller.
See a movie for this meaning
 
synonyms:
decrease, diminish, dwindle
antonyms:
grow, swell, wax
similar words:
abate, contract, decline, ebb, fade, shrink, sink, subside, taper
definition 2: to become less powerful, prosperous, or strong.
His popularity was waning, and it didn't seem as if he could win the next election.She could feel her strength waning as she began the final lap of the race.His friends' influence over him waned as he went into his senior year.
synonyms:
decrease, diminish, dwindle, ebb
similar words:
abate, contract, decay, decline, deteriorate, droop, fade, flag, languish, peter, sag, shrink, shrivel, sink, subside, taper, weaken, wind down
definition 3: to draw near the end.
The year is waning, and what have we accomplished?His childhood was waning; he would soon become an adolescent.
similar words:
end, finish
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a period of diminishing, such as that of the decrease of the moon's illuminated portion.
similar words:
abatement, decline, decrease, diminishment, ebb, fall-off
definition 2: the process of gradually becoming less powerful, prosperous, or strong.
synonyms:
decrease
similar words:
abatement, decline, diminishment, ebb, fall-off
definition 3: the ending or last part of some period.
synonyms:
end, ending
similar words:
conclusion, finish, termination, terminus
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature