diminish
verb (used with object)
to make or cause to seem smaller, less, less important, etc.; lessen; reduce.
were diminishing
-
past progressiveof diminish.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Speaking on the BBC in 2021, he expressed his fear that those freedoms were diminishing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
That the demands of playing shortstop were diminishing his offensive productivity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2024
One was seeing the writing on the wall, seeing that natural resources were diminishing and realizing that if he kept on with business as usual, that was the end of his business.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 19, 2021
However, it cancelled this decision last month in what seemed like a sign that tensions were diminishing.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2019
The insects were diminishing in number, and soon their season would be over, which was just as well, as the Fentress Firefly Prize ribbon was grubby and limp.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
