wane down

USAGE SUMMARY

'wane down' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you want to express that something (usually a quality or characteristic) is on the decline or becoming less intense. For example, "As the days went on, his enthusiasm began to wane down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even then, the population of Elmira was on the wane, down 20 percent from its 1949 peak.

The New York Times

Interestingly, sales of download albums are on the wane, down 13percentt on the year before, indicative of a continuing move from ownership of digital music to streaming services.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This is all a part of the cataleptic stage, where the vibrations tend to occur in bursts while incrementally waning down until all that remains is silent blackness.

WikiHow

Demand for petrol now seems to be waning - down from a 172% rise on Thursday to a 28% rise on Friday, according to independent retailers' group RMI Petrol.

BBC

In California the drop has been a far more dramatic 14%.Moreover, whereas smoking by women is on the increase in those eight regions up 13.2% since the late 1980s in California it is waning, down 4.8% in the same period.

The Economist

Analysts believe the church's waning influence is down to the impact of a succession of child abuse scandals over the last decade.

Independent

Once the morning sickness waned I scarfed down milk shakes and fried chicken!

Huffington Post

In Kidman's case, she rode for years on the fascination over her 2001 split from Tom Cruise, but studio interest in her seemed to wane once she settled down with Keith Urban in Nashville, far from the Hollywood paparazzi.

Huffington Post

I never realized that I was quite as predictable as I apparently am, but it seems that when any year is over (good or bad) and the personal introspection starts to wane, the tree comes down, the ornaments go away and everyone who is not devout at any other time of year stops standing on line to see The Baby Jesus, I make South Asian food.

Huffington Post

Michael built his lead to nearly 10 seconds before slowing in the waning laps to cut down on the chance of a mistake.

The New York Times - Sports

He added that while the previous profit declines had been blamed on difficulty getting financing among Ericsson's customer base, now it was down to waning demand and cuts to capital expenditure, particularly from Asian operators.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wane down" to describe a gradual decrease in intensity, influence, or quantity, particularly when combined with an explanation of what's causing the decrease.

Common error

Avoid using "wane down" to describe sudden or abrupt stops. The phrase implies a gradual decline, not an immediate cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wane down" functions as a phrasal verb indicating a gradual decrease or decline. It modifies a noun, describing how something diminishes over time. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wane down" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb that describes a gradual decline or decrease. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While its frequency is relatively rare, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and general writing. For more formal settings, alternatives like "decline" or "diminish" might be more appropriate. It's important to remember that the phrase implies a gradual process rather than an abrupt stop.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diminish

Focuses on the reduction in size, extent, or importance.

decline

Emphasizes a gradual deterioration or loss of strength.

decrease

Highlights a reduction in quantity or intensity.

subside

Suggests a calming down or settling after a period of activity or intensity.

abate

Implies a lessening of something that is negative or undesirable.

recede

Indicates a moving back or away, often used for water or other physical entities.

ebb

Specifically refers to the receding of the tide, but can be used metaphorically for decline.

fade

Suggests a gradual loss of color, strength, or visibility.

peter out

Implies a gradual decrease to the point of stopping entirely.

taper off

Indicates a gradual reduction or decrease, often in a smooth or controlled manner.

FAQs

How can I use "wane down" in a sentence?

You can use "wane down" to describe a gradual decrease. For example, "As the days went on, his enthusiasm began to wane down".

What does "wane down" mean?

"Wane down" means to gradually decrease or diminish in intensity, power, or extent. It suggests a slow decline rather than an abrupt stop.

Are there alternatives to "wane down"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "diminish", "decline", or "decrease" depending on the specific context.

Is "wane down" formal or informal?

"Wane down" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in news and general writing. More formal settings might prefer alternatives like "decline" or "diminish".