verb
B1
Intermediate
wither
WIH-thuh
Wither (verb) means to shrink, dry up, or lose freshness, especially from lack of water. Example: “The flowers withered in the summer heat.”
verb
1
To shrink, dry up, or lose freshness, especially from lack of water.
"The flowers withered in the summer heat."
"Without rain, the crops began to wither."
2
To gradually lose strength, vitality, or importance.
"Support for the campaign withered as the months passed."
How to use wither
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo dry up and shrink, or to slowly fade away or lose strength.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
wither away
wither in the heat
support withers
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- withers
- Past tense
- withered
- Comparative
- more wither
- Superlative
- most wither
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The flowers _____ in the summer heat.
Etymology
From Middle English widren, related to weather — originally describing something being worn down by exposure to the elements.
Related words
Rhymes for wither
See all rhymes for wither →Frequently asked questions
What does “wither” mean?
The word “wither” means to shrink, dry up, or lose freshness, especially from lack of water. In plain terms, to dry up and shrink, or to slowly fade away or lose strength.
How do you pronounce “wither”?
“Wither” is pronounced WIH-thuh (/ˈwɪðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “wither” in a sentence?
Here is “wither” used in a sentence: “The flowers withered in the summer heat.”
What part of speech is “wither”?
“Wither” is a verb.
Where does the word “wither” come from?
The word “wither” comes from Middle English. From Middle English widren, related to weather — originally describing something being worn down by exposure to the elements.
How many meanings does “wither” have?
“Wither” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shrink, dry up, or lose freshness, especially from lack of water.
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