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.

See Examples For:

wax and wane

Revenue could also become more volatile since incomes of high earners wax and wane with capital gains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

But in the political world, it does wax and wane.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

Genres always wax and wane at the fest, with classic rock and EDM giving way to rap and pop.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 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

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