adjective
Common
wasting
WAYS-tihng
Wasting (adjective) means causing the body to lose muscle or fat, becoming progressively weaker. Example: “The doctor explained that the wasting disease weakened his muscles over many months.”
adjective
1
Causing the body to lose muscle or fat, becoming progressively weaker.
"The doctor explained that the wasting disease weakened his muscles over many months."
"Patients with this wasting condition often need extra nutrition and gentle exercise."
"The illness led to a severe wasting of muscle tissue."
noun
1
The gradual loss of strength, weight, or substance over time.
"The vet noticed the wasting of the old dog's back legs."
"Nurses watched closely for any sign of wasting in the sick child."
"Doctors were concerned by the rapid wasting they observed."
How to use wasting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGradually losing bulk, strength, or body mass, especially through illness.
Common pairings
a wasting disease
muscle wasting
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wasting.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wastings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The doctor explained that the _____ disease weakened his muscles over many months.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wasting
casting
tasting
lasting
fasting
pasting
boasting
coasting
roasting
feasting
blasting
toasting
contrasting
See all rhymes for wasting →
Frequently asked questions
What does “wasting” mean?
The word “wasting” means causing the body to lose muscle or fat, becoming progressively weaker. In plain terms, gradually losing bulk, strength, or body mass, especially through illness.
How do you pronounce “wasting”?
“Wasting” is pronounced WAYS-tihng (/ˈweɪstɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “wasting” in a sentence?
Here is “wasting” used in a sentence: “The illness led to a severe wasting of muscle tissue.”
What part of speech is “wasting”?
Depending on how it is used, “wasting” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “wasting” a common word?
“Wasting” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “wasting” have?
“Wasting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing the body to lose muscle or fat, becoming progressively weaker.
What is the difference between 'wasting' and 'wasting away'?
As an adjective or noun, 'wasting' describes the gradual loss of muscle, weight, or strength. 'Wasting away' is the phrasal form meaning to become progressively thinner and weaker over time. They describe the same decline, one as a description and one as an ongoing action.
What is a 'wasting disease'?
A 'wasting disease' is an illness that causes the body to lose muscle or fat and grow progressively weaker. The adjective 'wasting' points to this steady physical decline rather than a sudden loss.
What is the difference between 'wasting' and 'atrophy'?
'Wasting' is a general term for the gradual loss of strength, weight, or bodily substance. 'Atrophy' is the more technical, often medical, word for the shrinking or wasting of a specific tissue, muscle, or organ. Atrophy is one particular mechanism of wasting.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include wasting:
