subside
Americanverb
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to become less loud, excited, violent, etc; abate
-
to sink or fall to a lower level
-
(of the surface of the earth, etc) to cave in; collapse
-
(of sediment, etc) to sink or descend to the bottom; settle
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.
Vocabulary lists containing subside
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He said that historically, when macro risks subside, flows tend to snap back into high-yield funds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 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
The talismanic striker converted in Budapest and expertly dispatched another for the opener in Prague despite a lengthy wait for the home side's protestations to subside.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The feeling would peak for a few minutes and then subside as the feeding continued.
From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026
They sat in silence for a while, and Lola’s shivering began to subside.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
