subside

verb

sub·​side səb-ˈsīd 

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  ˈsəb-sə-dən(t)s 

noun

Synonyms of subside

• diminish
• decrease
• fall
• vanish
• shrink
• ease
• decline
• recede

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

When the celebrations had subsided, the Arsenal coach was unable to leave as there were so many fans still lining the streets. —James McNicholas, New York Times, 25 May 2026

And the follow-home robberies and street takeovers that captured the public’s attention in recent years have largely subsided. —Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026

Then the climax subsides for a lovely coda of strings, accompanied by a denouement in which the now casually clad, contemporary-looking singer smashes up her play set in the apartment where she’s presumably been brooding over all this stuff. —Chris Willman, Variety, 22 May 2026

Although those symptoms may subside after about a day, officials said severe or fatal liver damage can develop two to four days after eating the mushrooms. —Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026

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

Rhymes for subside

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

subside

verb

sub·​side səb-ˈsīd 

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 

ˈsəb-səd-ən(t)s

noun

Medical Definition

subside

intransitive verb

sub·​side səb-ˈsīd 

subsided; subsiding

: to lessen in severity : become diminished

the fever subsided

subsidence

səb-ˈsīd-ᵊn(t)s  ˈsəb-səd-ən(t)s 

noun