Definition

1. Noun: The process or fact of becoming gradually less in size, amount, strength, or importance; a gradual decline or diminishment.

Usage

• As a subject: Describes the process itself as the main topic.
  • The dwindling away of the ancient forest is a major ecological concern.
• As an object: Follows a verb or preposition.
  • Scientists are studying the causes of the glacier's dwindling away.
  • He felt powerless against the dwindling away of his savings.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a connotation of sadness, loss, or inevitability, describing a slow fade rather than a sudden end.
• It is commonly used with abstract nouns (e.g., hope, influence, tradition) and collective nouns (e.g., population, resources).

Variants and Related Words

• Dwindle (verb): To become gradually less.
  • Their hopes began to dwindle as time passed.
• Dwindling (adjective or present participle): Gradually becoming less.
  • They relied on their dwindling supplies. (adjective)
  • The dwindling number of participants was worrying. (adjective)

Synonyms

• Diminution: The act or process of diminishing; reduction.
• Decline: A gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, quality, or value.
• Shrinkage: The process, fact, or amount of shrinking.
• Waning: The process of decreasing in vigor, power, or extent.

Related Phrases

• Dwindle away: The verb phrase from which the noun is derived.
  • The audience began to dwindle away after the intermission.
• Die away: To become gradually weaker or fainter until it ceases (often for sounds).
  • The sound of the music died away in the distance.

Noun

1. a becoming gradually less
   • there is no greater sadness that the dwindling away of a family