Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense wanes, present participle waning, past tense, past participle waned
1. verb
If something wanes, it becomes gradually weaker or less, often so that it eventually disappears.
While his interest in these sports began to wane, a passion for rugby developed. [VERB]
...her mother's waning strength. [VERB-ing]
2. wax and wane
3.
See on the wane
4. verb [usually cont]
When the moon is waning, it is showing a smaller area of brightness each day as it changes from a full moon to a new moon.
The moon was waning, and each day it rose later. [VERB]
...a sky silvered by a waning moon. [VERB-ing]
More Synonyms of wane
wane in British English
(weɪn)
verb(intransitive)
1.
(of the moon) to show a gradually decreasing portion of illuminated surface, between full moon and new moon
Compare wax2 (sense 2)
2.
to decrease gradually in size, strength, power, etc
3.
to draw to a close
noun
4.
a decrease, as in size, strength, power, etc
5.
the period during which the moon wanes
6.
the act or an instance of drawing to a close
7.
a rounded surface or defective edge of a plank, where the bark was
8. on the wane
Derived forms
waney (ˈwaney) or wany (ˈwany)
adjective
Word origin
Old English wanian (vb); related to wan-, prefix indicating privation, wana defect, Old Norse vana
wane in American English
(weɪn)
verb intransitiveWord forms: waned or ˈwaning
1.
to grow gradually less in extent
said esp. of the visible face of the moon during the phases after full moon in whichthe lighted portion is gradually reduced to a thin crescent on the left, as seen fromthe Northern Hemisphere see also wax1 (sense 1)
2.
to become less intense, bright, strong, etc.; grow dim or faint, as a light
3.
to decline in power, importance, prosperity, influence, etc.
4.
to approach the end
said of a period of time
the day wanes
noun
5.
a.
the gradual decrease in the visible face of the moon after it has become full
b.
the time when this takes place
6.
a gradual decrease in power, importance, intensity, etc., esp. after a gradual climb to a peak
7.
a period of decline
8.
the beveled, defective, bark-covered edge or corner of a board or plank cut from an unsquared log or block of wood
Idioms:
on the wane
SYNONYMY NOTE: wane implies a fading or weakening of that which has reached a peak of force, excellence,etc. [his fame waned rapidly]; abate suggests a progressive lessening in degree, intensity, etc. [the fever is abating]; ebb, applied specifically to a fluctuating force, refers to one of the periods of recessionor decline [their ebbing fortunes]; subside suggests a quieting or slackening of violent activity or turbulence [her temper had subsided]
OPPOSITES: wax, increase, revive
Word origin
ME wanien < OE wanian, to decrease, grow less, akin to wan, lacking: for IE base see want
Examples of 'wane' in a sentence
wane
He has constant pins and needles over his upper body and waning strength.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Most of us accept that as we grow old our physical and mental powers will wane.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But she looks set to remain in the limelight long after many of their careers have waned.
The Sun (2011)
They talk about a waning of interest in them.
The Sun (2011)
The thing that has really surprised me is a waning of interest in gorgeous things.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The monotony soon has your interest waning.
The Sun (2016)
It cannot have gone unnoticed that our global power has waned in tandem with the waning of our pants.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
At first darkly comic, the show gradually waned and became more saccharine and fluffy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The result: tribal influence is waning.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Spray first during a waning moon, and if possible on a leaf day.
Thompkins, Peter, Bird, Christopher Secrets of the Soil (1990)
But his influence waned once Labour was elected.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I was born in the waning days of vinyl records.
Christianity Today (2000)
The problem was his powers were waning and the more he strove for the hundred, the harder the hunt became.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
His baleful influence will wane.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The chairman is a backbench MP hoping for a publicity boost to his waning career.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Very thin waning crescent Moon above on the 13th.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Thin waning crescent Moon nearby on the 8th.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The signs of a waning career, visible for much of last season, had vanished through the winter.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
wane
British English: wane VERB
If something wanes, it becomes gradually weaker or less, often so that it eventually disappears.
While his interest in these sports began to wane, a passion for rugby developed.
American English: wane
Brazilian Portuguese: minguar
Chinese: 减弱
European Spanish: menguar
French: décliner
German: abnehmen
Italian: affievolirsi
Japanese: 徐々に弱くなる
Korean: 줄어들다
European Portuguese: minguar
Latin American Spanish: menguar
Chinese translation of 'wane'
wane
(weɪn)
vi
[moon]亏(虧)缺 (kuīquē)
[interest, influence etc]减(減)弱 (jiǎnruò)
n
to be on the wane日益衰落 (rìyì shuāiluò)
1 (verb)
Definition
to decrease gradually in size, strength, or power
His interest in art to wane.
Synonyms
decline
a declining birth rate
flag
His enthusiasm was in no way flagging.
weaken
The storm was finally beginning to weaken.
Family structures are weakening and breaking up.
diminish
fall
Her weight fell as she excerised more and ate healthily.
fail
Here in the hills, the light failed more quickly.
drop
Temperatures can drop to freezing at night.
sink
Our hopes were sinking fast.
fade
After that all her worries faded away.
decrease
dim
Their economic prospects have dimmed.
dwindle
wither
His dream of being a famous footballer withered and died.
lessen
The burden will lessen if you ask someone for help.
subside
The pain had subsided during the night.
ebb
There were occasions when my enthusiasm ebbed.
wind down
The storm was winding down at long last.
die out
fade away
abate
The storms soon abated.
draw to a close
atrophy
If you let your mind stagnate, this talent will atrophy.
taper off
The fighting has begun to taper off.
Opposites
rise
, increase,
grow
,
develop
,
improve
,
expand
,
strengthen
,
blossom
,
brighten
2 (verb)
Definition
(of the moon) to show a gradually decreasing area of brightness from full moon until new moon
The sliver of a waning moon was high in the sky.
Synonyms
diminish
The threat of war has diminished.
decrease
Population growth is decreasing each year.
dwindle
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
Opposites
increase,
grow
,
expand
,
wax
phrase
See on the wane
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abate
Definition
to make or become less strong
The storms soon abated.
Synonyms
decrease,
decline,
relax,
ease,
sink,
fade,
weaken,
diminish,
dwindle,
lessen,
slow,
wane,
subside,
ebb,
let up,
slacken,
attenuate,
taper off
in the sense of atrophy
If you let your mind stagnate, this talent will atrophy.
Synonyms
decline,
waste,
fade,
shrink,
diminish,
deteriorate,
dwindle,
wither,
wilt,
degenerate,
shrivel,
waste away
in the sense of decrease
Definition
to make or become less in size, strength, or quantity
Population growth is decreasing each year.
Synonyms
drop,
decline,
lessen,
contract,
lower,
ease,
shrink,
diminish,
fall off,
dwindle,
wane,
subside,
abate,
peter out,
slacken
Synonyms of 'wane'
wane
Explore 'wane' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dim
Their economic prospects have dimmed.
Synonyms
diminish,
decline,
dwindle,
wane,
recede,
subside,
ebb,
die out,
fade away,
shrivel,
peter out,
slacken
in the sense of drop
Definition
to decrease in amount, strength, or value
Temperatures can drop to freezing at night.
Synonyms
fall,
lower,
sink,
decline,
plunge,
slump,
diminish,
decrease,
plummet,
dwindle,
lessen,
slacken
in the sense of dwindle
Definition
to grow less in size, strength, or number
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
Synonyms
lessen,
fall,
decline,
contract,
sink,
fade,
weaken,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
decay,
wither,
wane,
subside,
ebb,
die down,
die out,
abate,
shrivel,
peter out,
die away,
waste away,
taper off,
grow less
in the sense of ebb
Definition
to fall away or decline
There were occasions when my enthusiasm ebbed.
Synonyms
decline,
drop,
sink,
flag,
weaken,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
deteriorate,
decay,
dwindle,
lessen,
subside,
degenerate,
fall away,
fade away,
abate,
peter out,
slacken
in the sense of fade
Definition
to lose brightness, colour, or strength
After that all her worries faded away.
Synonyms
dwindle,
disappear,
vanish,
melt away,
fall,
fail,
decline,
flag,
dissolve,
dim,
disperse,
wither,
wilt,
wane,
perish,
ebb,
languish,
die out,
droop,
shrivel,
die away,
waste away,
vanish into thin air,
become unimportant,
evanesce (formal),
etiolate
in the sense of fail
Definition
to stop operating
Here in the hills, the light failed more quickly.
Synonyms
give out,
disappear,
fade,
dim,
dwindle,
wane,
gutter,
languish,
peter out,
die away,
grow dim,
sink
in the sense of fall
Definition
to become less or lower in number or quality
Her weight fell as she excerised more and ate healthily.
Synonyms
decrease,
drop,
decline,
go down,
flag,
slump,
diminish,
fall off,
dwindle,
lessen,
subside,
ebb,
abate,
depreciate,
become lower
in the sense of flag
Definition
to lose enthusiasm or energy
His enthusiasm was in no way flagging.
Synonyms
weaken,
fall,
die,
fail,
decline,
sink,
fade,
slump,
pine,
faint,
weary,
fall off,
succumb,
falter,
wilt,
wane,
ebb,
sag,
languish,
abate,
droop,
peter out,
taper off,
feel the pace,
lose your strength
in the sense of lessen
Definition
to make or become less
The burden will lessen if you ask someone for help.
Synonyms
grow less,
diminish,
decrease,
contract,
ease,
weaken,
shrink,
slow down,
dwindle,
lighten,
wind down,
die down,
abate,
slacken
in the sense of sink
Definition
to become weaker in health
Our hopes were sinking fast.
Synonyms
decline,
die,
fade,
fail,
flag,
weaken,
diminish,
decrease,
deteriorate,
decay,
worsen,
dwindle,
lessen,
degenerate,
depreciate,
go downhill (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of subside
Definition
to become less loud, excited, or violent
The pain had subsided during the night.
Synonyms
decrease,
diminish,
lessen,
ease,
moderate,
dwindle,
wane,
recede,
ebb,
abate,
let up,
peter out,
slacken,
melt away,
quieten,
level off,
de-escalate
in the sense of taper off
Definition
to become gradually less
The fighting has begun to taper off.
Synonyms
decrease,
dwindle,
lessen,
reduce,
fade,
weaken,
wane,
subside,
wind down,
die out,
die away,
thin out
in the sense of weaken
Definition
to become or make weak or weaker
The storm was finally beginning to weaken.Family structures are weakening and breaking up.
Synonyms
wane,
fail,
diminish,
dwindle,
lower,
flag,
fade,
give way,
lessen,
abate,
droop,
ease up
in the sense of wind down
Definition
to diminish gradually
The storm was winding down at long last.
Synonyms
subside,
decline,
diminish,
come to an end,
dwindle,
tail off,
taper off,
slacken off,
reduce,
lessen,
slacken
in the sense of wither
Definition
to fade or waste
His dream of being a famous footballer withered and died.