wax and wane

Idioms

Increase and decrease, as in size, number, strength, or intensity, as in Enrollments in these programs wax and wane from year to year. This expression alludes to the phases of the moon, with its periodic changes in size. It was first recorded in the 1300s.

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.

Babies do not arrive on anyone’s schedule, and the busyness of labor and delivery units can wax and wane accordingly.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2024

The Moon is our constant companion, as we watch it wax and wane through its various phases as it glows bright in the sky.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2024

The researchers conclude that once mast cells are sensitized, diverse xenobiotics that never bothered the person previously and do not bother most people trigger multisystem symptoms that wax and wane over time.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2024

She said hospice has seen an uptick in patients with dementia, conditions in which “a patient can wax and wane for months or even years.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 17, 2024

They understood that she could wax and wane for a long time.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023