subside

American  

[suhb-sahyd] / səbˈsaɪd /

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.

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subside British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of subside

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

Example Sentences

And software stocks, irrespective of their fundamental merits, are caught in a historic downdraft that might take months or longer to subside.

From Barron's

The oil and gas majors have outperformed the broader market alongside rising oil prices, though Lee expects crude to ease in the coming quarters as geopolitical risks subside.

From The Wall Street Journal

They would enjoy the wealth of its waters till the rains subsided.

From Literature

The plume subsided after its initial eruption, and it was a beautiful day.

From Literature

He is banking that the firm will be helped by wider trends, as general inflation recedes, and the price of coffee, which has soared in recent years, subsides a little.

From BBC

Related Words

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