ebb

[eb]

noun

1. the flowing back of the tide as the water returns to the sea (flood,flow ).

2. a flowing backward or away; decline or decay.

   the ebb of a once great nation.

3. a point of decline.

   His fortunes were at a low ebb.

verb (used without object)

1. to flow back or away, as the water of a tide (flow ).

   Synonyms: retire, recede, abate, subside

2. to decline or decay; fade away.

   His life is gradually ebbing.

   Synonyms: decrease, diminish, dwindle

ebb

/ ɛb /

verb

1. (of tide water) to flow back or recede Compare flow

2. to fall away or decline

noun

1. 1. the flowing back of the tide from high to low water or the period in which this takes place

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare flood

      the ebb tide

2. in a state or period of weakness, lack of vigour, or decline

Other Word Forms

• unebbed adjective
• unebbing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ebb¹

before 1000; (noun) Middle English eb ( be ), Old English ebba; cognate with Old Frisian ebba, Dutch eb ( be ), German Ebbe ebb, Old Norse efja place where water backs up; (v.) Middle English ebben, Old English ebbian, derivative of the noun; akin to off

Word History and Origins

Origin of ebb¹

Old English ebba; related to Old Norse efja river bend, Gothic ibuks moving backwards, Old High German ippihōn to roll backwards, Middle Dutch ebbe ebb

Idioms and Phrases

• at a low ebb

Example Sentences

Aberg's blue was erased from the scoreboard by Patrick Cantlay as the ebbs and flows of a Ryder Cup Sunday took hold with American cheers reverberating around this huge plot of land.

From BBC

Longer races, which have time to ebb and flow, develop a narrative and have a span of time for events to happen within.

From BBC

It’s this ebb and flow between real talk and humor that defines “Upper Classy,” Alonzo’s most personal — and political — project yet.

From Los Angeles Times

Compromise and consensus — the animating creeds of our commonweal — have ebbed away.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s an exhilarating ride that carries on over the rest of the album, ebbing and flowing between chaos and calm.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abate 
• degenerate 
• deteriorate 
• die down 
• die out 
• diminish 
• dwindle 
• ease off 
• fall away 
• fall back 
• lessen 
• melt 
• peter out 
• recede 
• shrink 
• slacken 
• wane 
• weaken