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” ( see also sit ¹)

Explanation

To subside is to die down or become less violent, like rough ocean waves after a storm has passed (or your seasickness, if you happened to be sailing on that ocean). Subside comes from the Latin prefix sub- (meaning "down") and the Latin verb sidere (meaning "to settle"). Subside is often used when a negative situation has improved significantly. For example, violence, disease, and unemployment can all subside. Here's hoping that they do.

Example Sentences

“In theory, the cost performance will improve as those near-term headwinds subside and capacity steps up modestly, but the floor in costs has risen more than hoped.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Investors’ primary concern about the HDD market is that the current surge in demand will subside at some point soon, allowing supply to catch up and price growth to moderate.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

What is unfolding now is not just another geopolitical flare-up that will soon subside.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Holyrood has voted on assisted dying several times over the past two decades, and political pressure is unlikely to subside.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

It blew her hair away from her face and the misery of her sleepless night began to subside.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

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