subside
Americanverb (used without object)
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subsides,
present (3rd person singular)
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subsided,
past participle, past
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subsiding
present participle
verb
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to become less loud, excited, violent, etc; abate
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to sink or fall to a lower level
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(of the surface of the earth, etc) to cave in; collapse
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(of sediment, etc) to sink or descend to the bottom; settle
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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subsidesimple
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subsidessimple
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have subsidedperfect
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has subsidedperfect
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am subsidingprogressive
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are subsidingprogressive
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is subsidingprogressive
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have been subsidingperfect progressive
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has been subsidingperfect progressive
Past
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subsidedsimple
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had subsidedperfect
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was subsidingprogressive
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were subsidingprogressive
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had been subsidingperfect progressive
Future
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.
See Examples For:
She said she feared that the protest would not subside unless the wage board announced a salary increase.
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026
Tides are expected to approach 8 feet Thursday morning, then gradually subside into the weekend.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
As the magma continues to escape, sections of the unsupported ground subside, opening new fractures and vents while feeding further eruptive columns and pyroclastic density currents.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Some trucking companies have ceased doing business, and many more will likely fail if high fuel costs do not subside soon.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
Even with a special treat like that, my raging appetite didn't subside.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
Eventually, the novelty of the road trip fades, and hope subsides.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
However, it’s possible that the “bondfire” subsides under the direction of Bessent and Warsh, says Emanuel.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
Postpartum depression is longer-lasting than “baby blues,” a common emotional state after birth that subsides within a couple of weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The other half decided to stick with the old regime for now, meaning they will see a 40% cut in funding this year as those subsides are phased out.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
I withdraw my hand and kneel on the edge of the bed, taking hard swallows of air until the feeling subsides.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
Among other safe havens, the U.S. dollar fell against a basket of rivals as civil unrest in France subsided.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
Ohtani said Tuesday that his symptoms have subsided since the Dodgers put him on the injured list, for the minimum stay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
Inflammation subsided, and the spinal cords regenerated perfectly, even though the neutrophils themselves were no longer present.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
One military official with the internationally recognised government based in Aden said fighting had subsided in the early hours of Sunday morning.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
I didn't feel like I was back to my normal self when my mom finally got home from work, but the fear that I was going to drop dead had gradually subsided.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
"And when we look at all the different satellite images across multiple years, we can see how the distance between the satellite and the ground changes, where it is uplifting or subsiding."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
"When it's subsiding, that means that there's probably magma draining away from the volcano, but once the ground starts uplifting again, that can mean that there's potentially new magma moving in," Johnson said.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Investor fears about an AI spending slowdown and the impact of interest-rate hikes are subsiding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
The exchange of strikes came shortly after the US-Iran war hit the six-month mark, and at a time when hostilities had been subsiding.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
Though it was only eleven years since the trail’s completion, by 1948 it was already subsiding into oblivion.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
