subside
Americanverb
-
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
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Giver
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Planes have been grounded for hours waiting for threats to subside.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 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
Perhaps that is simply your doctor assessing your risk for GI disorders before prescription, or maybe they take you off the drug for a few months to see if symptoms subside.
From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026
The voices subside, and I lean back against the dirt wall and let myself think.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
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.
