waning
Americanadjective
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decreasing in strength, intensity, etc..
Many teens in focus groups expressed waning enthusiasm for social media.
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declining in power, importance, prosperity, etc..
The recent hacking of the retailer’s credit card system will have devastating implications for its already waning business.
-
drawing to a close; approaching an end.
The bill will likely be passed in the waning days of this legislative session.
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(of the moon) decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.
The crescent of fine white sand, wrapped around the bay, looked like a waning moon.
noun
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the process of decreasing, declining, or coming to an end.
The Middle Ages occurred between the waning of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance.
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(of the moon) the process of decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.
Onion seeds are planted in the fall, during the waning of the Harvest Moon.
Other Word Forms
- unwaning adjective
Etymology
Origin of waning
First recorded before 900; wan(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; wan(e) ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses
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.
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
He got his first job at the agency some 45 years ago in the waning months of Jimmy Carter’s presidency, working his way up to one of the top jobs.
From MarketWatch
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.
