subside

verb

sub·​side səb-ˈsīd How to pronounce subside (audio)
subsided; subsiding

intransitive verb

1
: to sink or fall to the bottom : settle
2
: to tend downward : descend
especially : to flatten out so as to form a depression
3
: to let oneself settle down : sink
subsided into a chair
4
: to become quiet or less
as the fever subsides
my anger subsided
Choose the Right Synonym for subside

abate, subside, wane, ebb mean to die down in force or intensity.

abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

Examples of subside in a Sentence

The pain will subside in a couple of hours. After his anger had subsided, he was able to look at things rationally. We'll have to wait until the wind subsides. The road will remain closed until the water subsides.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
With 16 inches of rain and flooding, the water doesn’t subside as rapidly as all of us would like, so, this healing, this recovery is taking a lot longer. Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024 At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Coleman Creek flooded, stranding students into the Student Union building until the water subsided. arkansasonline.com, 12 Oct. 2024 The geomagnetic storm responsible for Thursday's stunning skies is now subsiding, CBS Boston reported. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2024 Trying to get that to subside or be eradicated can be extremely challenging for parents. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for subside 

Word History

Etymology

Latin subsidere, from sub- + sidere to sit down, sink; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of subside was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near subside

Cite this Entry

“Subside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subside. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

subside

verb
sub·​side səb-ˈsīd How to pronounce subside (audio)
subsided; subsiding
1
: to sink or fall to the bottom : settle
2
: to become quiet or less : abate
as the fever subsides
my anger subsided
subsidence
səb-ˈsīd-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce subside (audio)
ˈsəb-səd-ən(t)s
noun

Medical Definition

subside

intransitive verb
sub·​side səb-ˈsīd How to pronounce subside (audio)
subsided; subsiding
: to lessen in severity : become diminished
the fever subsided

More from Merriam-Webster on subside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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