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 The worst of the strong winds have subsided, but much of Los Angeles County remains under a wind advisory through 11 a.m. Friday with some lingering offshore flow, Tardy said. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Despite Reece's capture, the grief of the families who lost their daughters will never subside. Claire Lempert, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024 Bailey was still unable to make a fist Wednesday morning, according to Melvin, but the swelling and discoloration had subsided. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The actors’ strike ended in November, but little of Hollywood’s unease subsided. Jake Coyle, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 Gosling may still be shrieking in horror, but the hubbub has mostly subsided. Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 In a closed door meeting, Councilwoman Melissa Robinson, however, was unsuccessful in getting her colleagues to slap him with a vote of no confidence, and the controversy subsided. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Draining groundwater can also cause land to subside and allow salt water to intrude farther inland, ruining agricultural land for farmers today and for food production in the future. Joyeeta Gupta, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 And winds are subsiding, allowing for workers to clear the affected portions of I-80. Bychris Morris, Fortune, 4 Mar. 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 28 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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