What does dwindle mean?
Dwindle means (intransitive) To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity..
Dwindle
/ˈdwɪn.dəl/ · verb
Meaning
(intransitive) To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity..
Definitions by Sense
- (intransitive) To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity.
- (intransitive, figuratively) To fall away in quality; degenerate, sink.
- (transitive) To lessen; to bring low.
- To break up or disperse.
Example Sentences
Their supplies began to dwindle after a week.
Interest in the project slowly dwindled.
dwindle away
dwindle to nothing
dwindle steadily
1802, T. Paynell (translator), Erasmus, The Complaint of Peace [E]very thing that was improving gradually degenerates and dwindles away to nothing, […]
In 1986, with the cod catch dwindling, Canada closed its ports to European fishing boats.
VVearie Seu'nights, nine times nine, / Shall he dvvindle, peake, and pine: […]
Synonyms for dwindle
Antonyms for dwindle
Related Words
Word Forms
- dwindles
- dwindling
- dwindled
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for dwindle?
Common synonyms include fade away, peter out, spin down, trail off.
What is the opposite of dwindle?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use dwindle in a sentence?
Their supplies began to dwindle after a week.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.