dwindling away
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- a becoming gradually less
- there is no greater sadness that the dwindling away of a family