wane

1 of 2

verb

ˈwān 

waned; waning

intransitive verb

1

: to decrease in size, extent, or degree : dwindle: such as

a

: to diminish in phase or intensity

—used chiefly of the moon, other satellites, and inferior planets

b

: to become less brilliant or powerful : dim

c

: to flow out : ebb

2

: to fall gradually from power, prosperity, or influence

wane

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act or process of waning

strength on the wane

b

: a period or time of waning

specifically : the period from the full moon to the new moon

2

[Middle English, defect, from Old English wana; akin to Old English wan deficient] : a defect in lumber characterized by bark or a lack of wood at a corner or edge

Did you know?

"Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour / Draws on apace four happy days bring in / Another moon: But oh, methinks how slow / This old moon wanes!" So Theseus describes his eagerness for his wedding night in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. As illustrated by Theseus' words, wane is a word often called upon to describe the seeming decrease in size of the moon in the later phases of the lunar cycle. The traditional opposite of wane is wax, a once common but now infrequently used synonym of grow. Wane and wax have been partnered in reference to the moon since the Middle Ages.

Synonyms

Verb

• abate
• de-escalate
• decline
• decrease
• die (away or down or out)
• diminish
• drain (away)
• drop (off)
• dwindle
• ease
• ebb
• fall
• fall away
• lessen
• let up
• lower
• moderate
• pall
• phase down
• ratchet (down)
• rachet (down)
• recede
• relent
• remit
• shrink
• subside
• taper
• taper off

Choose the Right Synonym for wane

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 wane in a Sentence

Verb

The moon waxes and then wanes.

The scandal caused her popularity to wane.

Interest in this issue has continued to wane.

the waning days of summer

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

El Niño, the climate pattern that helped drive California’s recent stormy conditions, is expected to wane in the weeks ahead, and there is an 85% chance that its drier counterpart, La Niña, will develop by late fall or early winter. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024

This comes as the company faces mounting pressure from the one-two punch of waning demand and more affordable EVs made by Chinese manufacturers. —Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 15 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wanien, wanen, going back to Old English wanian, going back to Germanic *wanōjan- (whence Old High German wanōn "to lessen," Old Norse vana), weak verb derivative from *wano- "deficient, absent," whence Old English & Old High German wan "lacking, deficient," Old Norse vanr, Gothic wans; akin to Latin vānus "empty, vain," Greek eûnis "bereft (of), without," Sanskrit ūna- "deficient, defective"

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wane

• on the wane

Kids Definition

wane

1 of 2 verb

ˈwān 

waned; waning

1

: to grow gradually smaller or less

the moon wanes

2

: to lose power, prosperity, or influence

the nation waned as its commerce declined

3

: to draw toward an end

summer is waning

wane

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or process of waning

2

: a period or time of waning

especially : the period from the full phase of the moon to the new moon