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

The protests have subsided underwhelming force. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 20 Jan. 2026

Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency said Saturday that street unrest has largely subsided, while Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said key agitators had been detained. —Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026

The demonstrations, which seem to have partially subsided in recent days, began in the bazaars of Tehran on 28 December, fuelled by anger over Iran’s collapsing currency, and spread across the country. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 17 Jan. 2026

When the water subsided, a member of the congregation was found dead in his pajamas, pinned to a tree behind the sanctuary, Hillerman says. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 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