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Definition of wane
waned
;waning
intransitive verb
1 : to decrease in size, extent, or degree : dwindle: such asa : to diminish in phase or intensity —used chiefly of the moon, other satellites, and inferior planetsb : to become less brilliant or powerful : dimc : to flow out : ebb
2 : to fall gradually from power, prosperity, or influence
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wane was our Word of the Day on 12/02/2016. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of wane in a Sentence
The moon waxes and then wanes.
The scandal caused her popularity to wane.
Interest in this issue has continued to wane.
the waning days of summer
Recent Examples of wane from the Web
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ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads Over time, the seemingly inevitable happened: my zeal for taekwondo began to wane.
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On Wednesday morning, a tornado passed through Fort Walton, Fla. Storm impacts along the Gulf Coast should wane Thursday as the remnant circulation heads north toward northern Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.
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Storm impacts along the Gulf Coast should wane Thursday as the remnant circulation heads north toward northern Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.
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As the American public’s support for the war began to wane, the network’s credibility rose, though its revenue did not.
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The joy the dog took in her illicit romp was contagious, and didn’t even wane when the animal control officer eventually led her, tail wagging, to a crate.
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U.S. Open viewership continued to wane as Fox Sports announced the second-lowest overnight rating for the final round in at least the last 29 years.
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Both have since seen their form and success wane in past two years after being considered notable talents.
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But the appeal may wane if coal resumes a slump that began in late 2011.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wane'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
"Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour / Draws on apace four happy days bring in / Another moon: But oh, methinks how slow / This old moon wanes!" So Theseus describes his eagerness for his wedding night in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. As illustrated by Theseus' words, wane is a word often called upon to describe the seeming decrease in size of the moon in the later phases of the lunar cycle. The traditional opposite of wane is wax, a once common but now infrequently used synonym of grow. Wane and wax have been partnered in reference to the moon since the Middle Ages.
Origin and Etymology of wane
Middle English wanien, wanen, going back to Old English wanian, going back to Germanic *wanōjan- (whence Old High German wanōn “to lessen,” Old Norse vana), weak verb derivative from *wano- “deficient, absent,” whence Old English & Old High German wan “lacking, deficient,” Old Norse vanr, Gothic wans; akin to Latin vānus “empty, vain,” Greek eûnis “bereft (of), without,” Sanskrit ūna- “deficient, defective”
Synonym Discussion of wane
wane
Definition of wane
1a : the act or process of waning strength on the waneb : a period or time of waning; specifically : the period from the full moon to the new moon
2 [Middle English, defect, from Old English wana; akin to Old English wan deficient] : a defect in lumber characterized by bark or a lack of wood at a corner or edge
Recent Examples of wane from the Web
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Brownback, who was first elected governor in 2010 by a more than 30-point margin, has seen his popularity and influence wane in recent years as the state has repeatedly faced budget shortfalls many blame on his tax cuts.
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United aimed to score early and watch the visitors energy wane in the thick evening air.
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EU leaders, however, are hoping talks with Trump will stress continuity in their relations after the early months of his administration increased fears that the trans-Atlantic friendship was on the wane.
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Once public confidence in a commander-in-chief's capacity to do his job wanes, their political decline can be brutally swift, as President George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter could attest.
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Particularly in recent years, Jefferson, long the hero of small d as well as capital D democrats, has seen his reputation wane due to his views on race, the revelation of his relationship with Sally Hemings, and his failure to free his own slaves.
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The price of oil has swung sharply in recent years, from more than $100 two years ago to less than $30 last year, as concerns wax and wane that supplies will overwhelm demand.
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Steel cargoes from China are on the wane, according to the customs data.
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Mélenchon, for his part, has also seen his support wane through his own errors.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wane'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of wane
14th century
WANE Defined for English Language Learners
wane
playDefinition of wane for English Language Learners
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of the moon : to appear to become thinner or less full
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: to become smaller or less : to decrease in size, amount, length, or quality
WANE Defined for Kids
wane
playDefinition of wane for Students
waned
;waning
1 : to grow smaller or less His interest in the game was waning. The moon wanes.
2 : to grow shorter The day is waning.
Learn More about wane
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See words that rhyme with wane Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wane Spanish Central: Translation of wane Nglish: Translation of wane for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wane for Arabic speakers
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