wane

American  

[weyn] / weɪn /

verb (used without object)

waned, waning

1. to decrease in strength, intensity, etc..

   Daylight waned, and night came on.

   Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning.

   Synonyms:

   sink, fail, diminish

2. to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc..

   Colonialism began to wane after World War II.

   Synonyms:

   sink, fail, diminish

3. to draw to a close; approach an end.

   Summer is waning.

4. (of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.

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noun

1. a gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc.

   Synonyms:

   decay, failure, diminution

2. the drawing to a close of life, an era, a period, etc.

3. the waning of the moon.

4. a period of waning.

5. a defect in a plank or board characterized by bark or insufficient wood at a corner or along an edge, due to the curvature of the log.

idioms

1. on the wane, decreasing; diminishing.

   The popularity of that song is on the wane.

wane British  

/ weɪn /

verb

1. (of the moon) to show a gradually decreasing portion of illuminated surface, between full moon and new moon Compare wax 2

2. to decrease gradually in size, strength, power, etc

3. to draw to a close

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noun

1. a decrease, as in size, strength, power, etc

2. the period during which the moon wanes

3. the act or an instance of drawing to a close

4. a rounded surface or defective edge of a plank, where the bark was

5. in a state of decline

wane More Idioms  

1. see wax and wane.

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Other Word Forms

• waney adjective

Etymology

Origin of wane

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb wanen, Old English wanian “to lessen”; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanen, Old Norse vana “to cause to wane, destroy”

Example Sentences

As Americans look ahead to the new year, it’s tempting to think that inflation is waning.

From Barron's

Analysts at the time said he was probably anxious about the military's waning power.

From Barron's

The salience of both news organizations is waning.

From Barron's

Sarvarov, 56, was a highly decorated officer who graduated from a tank command school in the waning years of the Soviet Union and served in the conflicts fueled by its collapse.

From The Wall Street Journal

The AI trade that has underpinned much of the market’s advance shows signs of deterioration, with momentum waning.

From Barron's

Related Words

• abate
• atrophy
• decrease
• die down
• die out
• dim
• dwindle
• ebb
• fade
• peter out
• shrink
• slacken
• subside
• weaken
• wither