to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.: Daylight waned, and night came on. Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning.
to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc.: Colonialism began to wane after World War II.
to draw to a close; approach an end: Summer is waning.
(of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.Compare wax2 (def. 2).
noun
a gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc.
the drawing to a close of life, an era, a period, etc.
the waning of the moon.
a period of waning.
a defect in a plank or board characterized by bark or insufficient wood at a corner or along an edge, due to the curvature of the log.
Idioms for wane
on the wane, decreasing; diminishing: The popularity of that song is on the wane.
Origin of wane
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb wanen, Old English wanian “to lessen”; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanen, Old Norse vana “to cause to wane, destroy”
SYNONYMS FOR wane
1, 2 diminish, fail, sink.
5 diminution; failure, decay.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR wane ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM wane
un·waned,adjectiveun·wan·ing,adjective
Words nearby wane
w. & f., wandoo, Wandorobo, wandsman, Wandsworth, wane, waney, Wang An Shi, Wanganui, Wang Ching-wei, Wangchuk