subside

[suhb-sahyd]

verb (used without object)

subsided, subsiding 

1. to sink to a low or lower level.

   Synonyms: settle, descend, decline
   Antonyms: rise

2. to become quiet, less active, or less violent; abate.

   The laughter subsided.

   Synonyms: ebb, wane, lessen, diminish
   Antonyms: increase

3. to sink or fall to the bottom; settle; precipitate.

   to cause coffee grounds to subside.

subside

/ səbˈsaɪd /

verb

1. to become less loud, excited, violent, etc; abate

2. to sink or fall to a lower level

3. (of the surface of the earth, etc) to cave in; collapse

4. (of sediment, etc) to sink or descend to the bottom; settle

Other Word Forms

• subsidence noun
• subsider noun
• nonsubsiding adjective
• unsubsided adjective
• unsubsiding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subside¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin subsīdere, from sub- sub- + sīdere “to sit down, settle” ( sit ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of subside¹

C17: from Latin subsīdere to settle down, from sub- down + sīdere to settle

Example Sentences

And the danger of lynching, though subsiding, remained.

Read more on Literature

For the first time since tariff confusion began to subside in May, the indexes dipped below their 50-day moving averages.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Barron’s predicted in August that many of the challenges that had caused deal activity to hit bottom in 2024 would subside this year.

Read more on Barron's

While the pullback is “healthy”—Rigetti remains up nearly 100% this year—“volatility looks to be subsiding, and we encourage investors to be opportunistic buyers on further weakness as the next catalysts develop,” Williams wrote.

Read more on Barron's

But Republicans stayed united and refused to budge, agreeing only to allow a vote in December on the healthcare subsides, something they had offered weeks ago.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• abate 
• descend 
• diminish 
• dwindle 
• ease 
• ease off 
• ebb 
• melt 
• peter out 
• recede 
• slacken 
• wane