ebb

1 of 2

noun

1
: the reflux of the tide toward the sea
2
: a point or condition of decline
our spirits were at a low ebb

ebb

2 of 2

verb

ebbed; ebbing; ebbs

intransitive verb

1
: to recede from the flood
2
: to fall from a higher to a lower level or from a better to a worse state
his popularity ebbed
Choose the Right Synonym for ebb

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 ebb in a Sentence

Noun Morale seems to have reached its lowest ebb. a surprising ebb in the quality of workmanship in goods coming from that country Verb waiting for the tide to ebb the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Such outreach, however, has been at a low ebb in recent years. Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024 When interest rates are low, falling or — as in this case — expected to fall, demand for Treasury bonds ebbs, and precious metals, which don’t pay out any interest, become relatively more attractive. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Even as inflation ebbs, food seems to be the final frontier that consumers must traverse as weekly trips to the grocery store weigh more on peoples’ wallets. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 As operations in Gaza ebb, commissions will investigate the military and intelligence failure on October 7, and the revelations will in the short term no doubt cause Israelis to lose even more confidence in their security institutions. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2023 Still, even with Feinstein’s death and the slew of broader departures, Cárdenas did not seem worried about any ebb of California power in the Capitol. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023 VanDam hopes the craze fades, the crowds ebb and the rat hole can stay. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 Americans put faith in nurses as overall confidence in health care ebbs Gallup polls earlier this year indicated that Americans’ level of faith in their country’s health care system is the lowest it’s been in a decade. Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 20 Dec. 2023 Hummel’s chief business in revealing and revisiting their bond is to show how female friendships ebb and flow and ebb again. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2023
Verb
Dan Loeb, one of the most successful hedge-fund managers of his generation, ended 2023 on a strong note, a rebound that suggests his difficult period may be ebbing. WSJ, 9 Jan. 2024 In 2012, Lake Powell levels started receding noticeably, and Cataract Canyon, at the far edges of the reservoir, was the first to begin resurfacing from under the ebbing lake waters. Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2024 Now, even as inflation rates have ebbed, the hack of keeping a price unchanged but just filling, say, your bag of chips with less food, hasn’t. Bysasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024 In another sign that recession fears are ebbing, just 27% of the CEOs expect economic conditions to worsen over the next six months. Krystal Hur, CNN, 11 Feb. 2024 Ukraine’s naval success is dramatic and unprecedented, but the tide of victory could ebb if the United States and other Ukrainian partners cut their assistance. Mark Cancian, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2024 With inflation ebbing and the economy holding up, the Fed last month maintained the federal funds rate at a 22-year-high, reinforcing views that its last hike in July marked the final chapter of the central bank's campaign to subdue price and wage gains. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2024 But domestic support for the invasion seems to be ebbing. Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 3 Jan. 2024 Yet if inflation continues to ebb, the current level of interest rates could be overly restrictive and drag on the economy. Krystal Hur, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ebb.' 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

Noun

Middle English ebbe, from Old English ebba; akin to Middle Dutch ebbe ebb, Old English of from — more at of

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ebb was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near ebb

Cite this Entry

“Ebb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ebb. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ebb

1 of 2 noun
1
: the flow away from the shore of seawater brought in by the tide
2
: a passing from a high to a low point
our spirits were at a low ebb
also : the time of such a passing

ebb

2 of 2 verb
1
: to recede from the flood
2
: to fall from a higher level or better state : weaken
her strength ebbed

More from Merriam-Webster on ebb

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