fade

[ feyd ]

verb (used without object)

, fad·ed, fad·ing.

1. to lose brightness or vividness of color.
2. to become dim, as light, or lose brightness of illumination.
3. to lose freshness, vigor, strength, or health:

   The tulips have faded.

4. to disappear or die gradually (often followed by away or out ):

   His anger faded away.

5. Movies, Television.
   1. to appear gradually, especially by becoming lighter (usually followed by in ).
   2. to disappear gradually, especially by becoming darker (usually followed by out ).
6. Broadcasting, Recording.
   1. to increase gradually in volume of sound, as in recording or broadcasting music, dialogue, etc. (usually followed by in ).
   2. to decrease gradually in volume of sound (usually followed by out ).
7. Football. (of an offensive back, especially a quarterback) to move back toward one's own goal line, usually with the intent to pass, after receiving the snapback from center or a hand-off or lateral pass behind the line of scrimmage (usually followed by back ):

   The quarterback was tackled while fading back for a pass.

8. (of an automotive brake) to undergo brake fade.

verb (used with object)

, fad·ed, fad·ing.

1. to cause to fade:

   Sunshine faded the drapes.

2. Movies, Television.
   1. to cause (a scene) to appear gradually (usually followed by in ).
   2. to cause (a scene) to disappear gradually (usually followed by out ).
3. Broadcasting, Recording. to cause (the volume of sound) to increase or decrease gradually (usually followed by in or out ).
4. (in dice throwing) to make a wager against (the caster).

noun

1. an act or instance of fading.
2. Movies, Television Informal. a fade-out.
3. a style of short haircut in which the hair on the top of the head is all one length, while the hair on the sides and back of the head is closely cut or shaved to a gradually shorter length from top to bottom, giving the appearance of the hair shading from darker to lighter.
4. Automotive. brake fade ( def ).

fade

/ feɪd /

verb

1. to lose or cause to lose brightness, colour, or clarity
2. intr to lose freshness, vigour, or youth; wither
3. intr; usually foll by away or out to vanish slowly; die out
4. 1. to decrease the brightness or volume of (a television or radio programme or film sequence) or (of a television programme, etc) to decrease in this way
   2. to decrease the volume of (a sound) in a recording system or (of a sound) to be so reduced in volume
5. intr (of the brakes of a vehicle) to lose power
6. to cause (a golf ball) to move with a controlled left-to-right trajectory or (of a golf ball) to veer gradually from left to right

noun

1. the act or an instance of fading

Derived Forms

• ˈfader, noun
• ˈfadable, adjective
• ˈfadedness, noun

Other Words From

• fad·a·ble adjective
• pre·fade verb (used with object) prefaded prefading
• un·fad·a·ble adjective
• un·fad·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fade¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; 1915–20 fade fordef 5; Middle English faden, derivative of fade “pale, dull,” from Anglo-French, Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin fatidus, for Latin fatuus fatuous

Word History and Origins

Origin of fade¹

C14: from fade (adj) dull, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin fatidus (unattested), probably blend of Latin vapidus vapid + Latin fatuus fatuous

Synonym Study

See disappear.

Example Sentences

Divers are still searching the waters but hope is fading on the possibility of finding more survivors.

From BBC

And the erosion of America’s relative economic strength from half the world’s output in 1950 to a quarter in 2010 meant the wherewithal for its unipolar power was fading fast.

From Salon

They were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole and, for years, their story largely faded from the spotlight.

From BBC

In it, Streep’s character, a fading but indomitable Hollywood actress named Madeline Ashton, is reunited with her old friend, Hawn’s wallflower novelist Helen Sharp.

From New York Times

But the sense of jubilation for returning home faded as people drove further south, passing piles of wreckage where buildings once stood and storefronts shattered by blasts.

From New York Times

Related Words

• abate
• deteriorate
• dim
• diminish
• disappear
• dissolve
• ebb
• evaporate
• fail
• fall
• lessen
• melt
• peter out
• sink
• vanish
• wane
• weaken
• wilt
• wither