\ ˈeb 
\
\Definition of ebb
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : the reflux of the tide toward the sea
2 : a point or condition of decline
our spirits were at a low ebb
ebb
verbebbed; ebbing; ebbs
Definition of ebb (Entry 2 of 2)
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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for ebb
Synonyms: Noun
- decadence,
- declension,
- declination,
- decline,
- degeneracy,
- degeneration,
- degradation,
- dégringolade,
- descent,
- deterioration,
- devolution,
- downfall,
- downgrade,
- eclipse,
- fall
Synonyms: Verb
- atrophy,
- crumble,
- decay,
- decline,
- degenerate,
- descend,
- deteriorate,
- devolve,
- regress,
- retrograde,
- rot,
- sink,
- worsen
Antonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Verb
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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
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This goes a long way toward understanding the ebb and flow in the popularity of facial hair across time.
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Josh Clark, Wired, "Facial Hair Is Biologically Useless. So Why Do Humans Have It?," 20 Dec. 2020 When Jafa moved to Los Angeles, his self-confidence was at a low ebb.
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Calvin Tomkins, The New Yorker, "Arthur Jafa’s Radical Alienation," 14 Dec. 2020 Pass the tubing through one of the holes in the reservoir lid and attach it to the smaller ebb nipple below the mixing tray [C].
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Daniel Kluko, Popular Mechanics, "Keep Growing All Winter With This DIY Hydroponic System," 7 Nov. 2020 Tyler Herro, by contrast, arrived at the lowest ebb of the Dion Waiters era.
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Ira Winderman, sun-sentinel.com, "ASK IRA: Are Heat in a position this season to serve youth?," 7 Dec. 2020 And especially those moments when this campaign was at its lowest ebb, the African American community stood up again for me.
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NBC News, "Meet the Press - November 29, 2020," 29 Nov. 2020 Lakewood Mayor Meghan George agreed with O’Malley, but chalked up the program’s current issue as nothing more than the ebb and flow of retirements.
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John Benson, cleveland, "Lakewood Councilman concerned about neighborhood policing program," 25 Nov. 2020 Teachers are covering open classrooms during their planning periods and balancing instruction for in-person students, online students and trying to keep up with the constant ebb and flow of those out for quarantine.
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Arika Herron, The Indianapolis Star, "'Exhausted and broken': Coronavirus quarantines lead to severe shortages of teachers, subs," 20 Nov. 2020 Other articles captured the mundane ebb and flow of life in a border city of 35,000 people.
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John Maccormack, ExpressNews.com, "Pandemic claims Del Rio News-Herald," 18 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The list of those vying for Fudge’s seat is likely to ebb and flow over the next several weeks leading up to Fudge’s confirmation vote, which would likely take place in February.
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cleveland, "Shontel Brown, Jeff Johnson announce bids, Nina Turner files paperwork for Marcia Fudge’s seat as list of potential candidates balloons," 10 Dec. 2020 It was supposed to be an emergency program, but the emergency will ebb with Covid-19 vaccines now rolling out.
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The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Lagarde Does Whatever She Can," 9 Dec. 2020 Shah predicted that the pandemic, currently surging out of control, would ebb through a succession of decreasing surges, diminished by a vaccine and perhaps some herd immunity.
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Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, "7 of the best events at the 2020 Times Festival of Books," 17 Nov. 2020 Online delivery orders, which shot through the roof in March, have already begun to ebb to prepandemic levels, as have mass-buying trends, which saw crowds stocking bulk quantities.
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Garrett Snyder Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "What are we drinking during the pandemic?," 5 Nov. 2020 But the informal tradition of Augusta tutelage did not ebb.
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Alan Blinder, New York Times, "Masters Mentorship Puts Tournament Rookies on Top," 14 Nov. 2020 In the world’s temperate zones, respiratory bugs ebb and surge with the seasons.
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Megan Molteni, Wired, "Covid Winter is Coming. Could Humidifiers Help?," 12 Nov. 2020 But with a vaccine on the horizon, some of the demand for goods could ebb.
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Justin Lahart, WSJ, "When Bad Things Happen to Goods Sectors," 11 Nov. 2020 Hopefully, the daily chaos will dissipate, the need to yell at the TV will ebb.
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Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, "Doc's TML: UC Bearcats deserve at least a puncher's chance at College Football Playoff," 9 Nov. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ebb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for ebb
ebb
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of ebb
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the time when the tide flows out from the land
: a low point or condition : a condition of weakness, failure, etc.
ebb
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of ebb (Entry 2 of 2)
of a tide : to flow outward from the land
: to get worse
See the full definition for ebb in the English Language Learners Dictionary
ebb
noun\ ˈeb \
\Kids Definition of ebb
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : the flowing out of the tide
2 : a point reached after things have gotten worse
In the ebb of their fortunes, this sum was their total capital …— Jack London, The Call of the Wild
ebb
verbebbed; ebbing
Kids Definition of ebb (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to flow out or away
2 : to get worse
His fortunes ebbed.
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Time Traveler for ebb
The first known use of ebb was before the 12th century
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