Showing results for "waning"

• present participle of wane.

waning

American  

[way-ning] / weɪ nɪŋ /

adjective

1. decreasing in strength, intensity, etc..

   Many teens in focus groups expressed waning enthusiasm for social media.

2. 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.

3. drawing to a close; approaching an end.

   The bill will likely be passed in the waning days of this legislative session.

4. (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.

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noun

1. 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.

2. (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

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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

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Explanation

If the moon was full, and now it's getting slimmer each night, it's a waning moon: it's getting gradually smaller. Waning can be used for anything that diminishes, like the brightness of the sunlight in the late afternoon, your interest in cartoons, or your influence over your teenage daughter's fashion choices. It comes from the Old English verb wǫnian, which means "to lessen."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waning

The drop in downtown office leasing appears to be waning, Condon said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

The developments come as top oil officials warn that global stockpiles are running low, meaning governments' ability to withstand the impact of the crisis is waning.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

But it’s telling that, unless a massively popular sport with a built-in audience is involved, the turnout for a Pitt movie is waning.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Beverage industry columnists and analysts in recent months have questioned whether the collective Aperol appetite is waning in favor of the Hugo Spritz, an elderflower-based cocktail usually made with Bacardi’s St-Germain liqueur.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

It is not a remarkable moon, waning, hazy in the cloudy night.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

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