Showing results for "waning"

• present participle of wane.

waning

American  

[way-ning] / weɪ nɪŋ /

adjective

1. decreasing in strength, intensity, etc..

   Many teens in focus groups expressed waning enthusiasm for social media.

2. declining in power, importance, prosperity, etc..

   The recent hacking of the retailer’s credit card system will have devastating implications for its already waning business.

3. drawing to a close; approaching an end.

   The bill will likely be passed in the waning days of this legislative session.

4. (of the moon) decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.

   The crescent of fine white sand, wrapped around the bay, looked like a waning moon.

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noun

1. the process of decreasing, declining, or coming to an end.

   The Middle Ages occurred between the waning of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance.

2. (of the moon) the process of decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.

   Onion seeds are planted in the fall, during the waning of the Harvest Moon.

Other Word Forms

• unwaning
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of waning

First recorded before 900; wan(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; wan(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

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Explanation

If the moon was full, and now it's getting slimmer each night, it's a waning moon: it's getting gradually smaller. Waning can be used for anything that diminishes, like the brightness of the sunlight in the late afternoon, your interest in cartoons, or your influence over your teenage daughter's fashion choices. It comes from the Old English verb wǫnian, which means "to lessen."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waning

The drop in downtown office leasing appears to be waning, Condon said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Outgoing US presidents have often doubled down on foreign policy in the waning days of their terms, as it's the area in which they have the most power.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

On that front, confidence in the boom’s staying power seems to be waning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

But it’s telling that, unless a massively popular sport with a built-in audience is involved, the turnout for a Pitt movie is waning.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

“We’re almost there,” said Seven, conferring with her map by the waning light of the moon and stars.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

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