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wane

1 antonym for wane — opposites grouped by meaning.

Verb — To gradually become weaker, smaller, or less intense.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To gradually become weaker, smaller, or less intense.

“His enthusiasm for the project began to wane after a few months.”

decline ebb ebbing go down

Opposites

wax

2. noun

The phase of decline, especially as in the expression "on the wane."

“The empire's power was clearly on the wane by that century.”

Antonyms

wax

How to use wane

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

wax and wane on the wane interest wanes influence waning

Etymology

From Old English wana, meaning "lack" or "deficiency" — the same ancient root underlies "want" and "wan," all connected to the idea of something falling short or emptying out.

Full origin of wane →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wane” mean?
The word “wane” means to gradually become weaker, smaller, or less intense. In plain terms, to gradually shrink, fade, or lose strength — classically used for the moon, but also for interest, power, or influence.
How do you pronounce “wane”?
“Wane” is pronounced wayn (/weɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “wane” in a sentence?
Here is “wane” used in a sentence: “His enthusiasm for the project began to wane after a few months.”
What is the opposite of “wane”?
The opposite of “wane” — its antonyms — is wax.
What part of speech is “wane”?
Depending on how it is used, “wane” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “wane” come from?
The word “wane” comes from Old English. From Old English wana, meaning "lack" or "deficiency" — the same ancient root underlies "want" and "wan," all connected to the idea of something falling short or emptying out.
How many meanings does “wane” have?
“Wane” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to gradually become weaker, smaller, or less intense.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.