wane
Americanverb (used without object)
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to decrease in strength, intensity, etc..
Daylight waned, and night came on.
Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning.
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to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc..
Colonialism began to wane after World War II.
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to draw to a close; approach an end.
Summer is waning.
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(of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.
noun
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a gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc.
- Synonyms:
- decay, failure, diminution
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the drawing to a close of life, an era, a period, etc.
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the waning of the moon.
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a period of waning.
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a defect in a plank or board characterized by bark or insufficient wood at a corner or along an edge, due to the curvature of the log.
idioms
verb
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(of the moon) to show a gradually decreasing portion of illuminated surface, between full moon and new moon Compare wax 2
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to decrease gradually in size, strength, power, etc
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to draw to a close
noun
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a decrease, as in size, strength, power, etc
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the period during which the moon wanes
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the act or an instance of drawing to a close
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a rounded surface or defective edge of a plank, where the bark was
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in a state of decline
Other Word Forms
- waney adjective
Etymology
Origin of wane
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb wanen, Old English wanian “to lessen”; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanen, Old Norse vana “to cause to wane, destroy”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He remained a showbiz fixture and kept performing even as commercial successes waned.
From Barron's
As life went on, Stanton got well into the intricacies of movement politics: meetings, rivalries, lectures, tactical disputes, the waxing and waning of public support.
Over recent months, consumers have showed signs of waning interest in often-pricey salad and bowl offerings.
From MarketWatch
The days of collecting New York salaries at New Hampshire and New Mexico addresses are waning.
Taking a deep breath, he gathered his waning strength in order to turn and politely face his neighbor.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
