Definition of wither
withered
;withering
play \ˈwith-riŋ, ˈwi-thə-\intransitive verb
1 : to become dry and sapless; especially : to shrivel from or as if from loss of bodily moisture
2 : to lose vitality, force, or freshness public support for the bill is withering
transitive verb
1 : to cause to wither
2 : to make speechless or incapable of action : stun withered him with a look — Dorothy Sayers
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Examples of wither in a Sentence
The plants withered and died.
shortly after the moon landing, interest in the space program withered
Recent Examples of wither from the Web
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En Vogue withered commercially without Dawn Robinson.
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The founding fiction that slavery would die of its own accord or wither from the end of the international slave trade had faded.
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Having her menu ideas wither in the face of reality was just one of many learnings for Ruff.
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Similarly, Hong Kong’s overall importance in the Chinese economy has withered.
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Externally, his body withered into a skeletal silhouette, covered in open sores.
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Senate Republicans’ approach to passing health-care reform has been shaped by one core conviction: Their bill would rapidly wither upon exposure to sunlight.
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The CNN exclusive - which hung from one unnamed source - didn't take long to wither.
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I’ve seen my own family members wither away from brain disease.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wither.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of wither
Middle English widren; probably akin to Middle English weder weather
Recent Examples of wither from the Web
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The question is how far those who cover the White House -- and the organizations that back those reporters -- are willing to push the envelope with a White House committed to ensuring the press briefing withers on the vine.
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Withers will lead the company’s East Region operations.
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Setbacks can as easily stoke as sap, movements may grow as well as wither, and every critical mass has, of necessity, been built from a subcritical one.
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Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get all the attention.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wither.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of wither
1607
Wither
playDefinition of Wither
George 1588–1667 English poet and pamphleteer
WITHER Defined for English Language Learners
wither
playDefinition of wither for English Language Learners
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of a plant : to become dry and weak
WITHER Defined for Kids
Learn More about wither
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See words that rhyme with wither Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wither Spanish Central: Translation of wither Nglish: Translation of wither for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wither for Arabic speakers
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