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
subsidence
səb-ˈsī-dᵊn(t)s How to pronounce subside (audio)
ˈsəb-sə-dən(t)s
noun
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 And winds are subsiding, allowing for workers to clear the affected portions of I-80. Bychris Morris, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Fresh off slugging his second home run of the spring a few hours earlier, the doubts that had subsumed his offseason had fully subsided. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024 Eventually, the ground will subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across. Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 Groundwater loss has also reduced crop yields in some areas and caused the ground to subside in much of the country. Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 And while the physical ramifications of her battle have begun to subside, Monroe admits that the mental challenges remain. Tricia Despres, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024 Though Covid transmission has begun to subside somewhat in the country, Link-Gelles said people who have not yet received the latest version of the vaccine should still do so. Helen Branswell, STAT, 1 Feb. 2024 Ordinals drove bitcoin transaction fees to record levels for a non-bull market period, but this momentum has recently subsided. Liam Wright, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The land subsided, or sank, by an average of 1 to 2 millimeters a year, but some counties in Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia saw their land sink twice or three times that fast. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 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

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