fading away

USAGE SUMMARY

"fading away" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you might write, "The sun was slowly fading away, signaling the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was personally fading away.

The New York Times

Brian Jones fading away.

The New York Times

I was fading away.

The New York Times - Sports

The aberration is not fading away.

The New York Times - Sports

And it may be fading away.

The New York Times

Why is it fading away?

The New York Times - Arts

"The time is fading away.

The New York Times - Sports

Feel the stress fading away.

The Guardian

"The clouds are fading away.

The Guardian

"But it's slowly fading away.

The New York Times

Are those footsteps fading away?

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fading away" to describe a gradual decline or disappearance of something, whether it's a physical object, a feeling, or an idea.

Common error

While "fading away" is widely understood, it can sound informal in certain contexts. For formal writing, consider more precise alternatives like "diminishing", "receding", or "declining" depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fading away" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a present participle phrase acting as a gerund when used as a noun, or part of a continuous verb tense. As Ludwig confirms, it is correct to use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fading away" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a gradual process of decline or disappearance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for general writing but might need more precise alternatives in formal contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science, it effectively conveys the sense of something slowly diminishing. When writing, remember that while versatile, more formal substitutes exist to elevate the level of sophistication in formal writing. Some suitable alternatives are "disappearing gradually", "slowly vanishing" or "waning steadily".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disappearing gradually

Emphasizes the gradual nature of the disappearance.

slowly vanishing

Highlights the slowness of the vanishing process.

waning steadily

Focuses on the steady decline or decrease.

ebbing away

Implies a gradual recession or outflow.

petering out

Suggests a gradual reduction to nothing.

dissipating slowly

Highlights the slow scattering or dissolving.

gradually receding

Emphasizes the gradual movement away.

dying out

Focuses on the extinction or termination aspect.

becoming fainter

Stresses the reduction in intensity or clarity.

melting away

Implies a gradual transformation from solid to liquid, or a similar gradual disappearance.

FAQs

How can I use "fading away" in a sentence?

You can use "fading away" to describe something gradually disappearing, like "The sound of the music was fading away" or "Her memories of that day were slowly fading away".

What's a more formal alternative to "fading away"?

In formal contexts, consider using "diminishing", "receding", or "declining" instead of "fading away".

Is "fading away" always about something negative?

Not necessarily. While it often describes negative processes like memories fading, it can also describe neutral phenomena like "The sunset was fading away, painting the sky with soft colors".

What is the difference between "fading away" and "disappearing"?

"Fading away" implies a gradual process of vanishing, while "disappearing" can be more sudden. "The sun was fading away" suggests a slow sunset, while "The rabbit disappeared into its burrow" implies a quick vanishing.