Definition

Verb: 1. To become less intense, severe, or active; to diminish. This is the most common meaning, referring to something forceful or unpleasant gradually decreasing in strength or activity. 2. To sink or fall to a lower level. This refers to a physical descent, often of land, water, or a structure. 3. To sink down; to settle. This can refer to a person collapsing into a resting position or to particles settling in a liquid.

Examples of Usage

• Meaning 1 (Become less intense):
  • After taking the medicine, her fever began to subside.
  • We waited for the storm to subside before going outside.
  • The public anger over the scandal has finally subsided.
• Meaning 2 (Sink to a lower level):
  • The floodwaters will subside once the rain stops.
  • The road subsided after the heavy rains, creating a large pothole.
• Meaning 3 (Sink down or settle):
  • Exhausted, he subsided into the comfortable armchair.
  • Allow the sediment in the wine to subside before pouring.

Advanced Usage

• "Subside into": Often used to describe sinking into a state, condition, or position, especially one of rest, silence, or inactivity.
  • The audience subsided into silence as the conductor raised his baton.
  • After the argument, she subsided into a gloomy mood.

Variants and Related Words

• Subsidence (noun): The process of subsiding, especially the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land.
  • The building was condemned due to land subsidence.
• Subsiding (adjective/participle): In the process of becoming less or sinking.
  • The patient is improving, with subsiding symptoms.

Synonyms

• Abate: To become less intense or widespread. (Often used for things like storms, pain, or fever).
• Diminish: To become or make less.
• Ebb: To gradually decrease or decline. (Often used for strength, feeling, or tide).
• Recede: To move back or away; to become more distant. (Often used for floodwaters, hairlines, or threats).
• Wane: To decrease in vigor, power, or extent; to fade. (Often used for the moon, influence, or enthusiasm).

Antonyms

• Intensify
• Increase
• Rise
• Swell
• Escalate

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Subside" is typically not used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meanings are conveyed through prepositions like "into" as shown in Advanced Usage.)

Verb

1. descend into or as if into some soft substance or place
   • He sank into bed
   • She subsided into the chair
2. sink down or precipitate
   • the mud subsides when the waters become calm
3. sink to a lower level or form a depression
   • the valleys subside
4. wear off or die down
   • The pain subsided