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to ebb

to ebb

19 5.6
To become less in strength, amount, or feeling
  • verb
  • /ɛb/
translation icon : disminuir
  • As the tide began to ebb, the shoreline was revealed, exposing the rocks and shells underneath.
  • ebb and flow
  • violence ebbs

In any given moment, awareness can ebb and flow, can't it?

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Examples

  • If you can just ebb and flow with stuff, you're going to find it so much easier to take.

  • My problem is that personal dynamics ebb and flow.

  • All of us, we ebb and flow, right?

  • And so I can ebb and flow with anything.

  • New fields are evolving, and jobs ebb and flow in accordance with the state of the technology in question.

    Academic text (2012)
  • In any given moment, awareness can ebb and flow, can't it?

  • Driving forces tend to ebb and flow as societal conditions change.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Do you feel your relationship with God ebbs and flows?

  • The political desire to address the problem ebbs and flows, but it appears to be gaining speed.

    Academic text (2003)
  • We don't need to go far in the hustle of the city where traffic ebbs and flows.

Synonyms

to ebb away
vsto ebb
1 5.6

To move back slowly, like water leaving a shore

is the general term used for tides, feelings, and other things
to ebb out
vsto ebb
5.6

Move back, like a tide, or become less strong over time

is the broader common term for receding in many contexts
to ebb off
vsto ebb
6.5

To flow back or become less strong slowly

is the general term covering tides, water, feelings, and other cases
to ebb down
vsto ebb
6.8

To move back and become less after rising, especially water like tides

is not limited to uses after rising and fits many gradual decreases

Antonyms

904 1.0

To become greater in amount or strength

524 1.0

The extra amount added to something to make it larger

1 4.6

To move forward in a large steady flow

Phrasal Verbs

1 5.6

To move back slowly, like water leaving a shore

To move back and become less after rising, especially water like tides

To flow back or become less strong slowly

Move back, like a tide, or become less strong over time

Compounds

low ebb
  • Informal
3 6.5

A time when energy and success are low

How Much

to disappear
1.0
to fade away
69 3.0
to recede
29 4.8
to ebb
19 5.6
to diminish
201 3.7

Surface Forms

ebb infinitive
ebbed past
ebbed past participle
ebbing present participle
ebbs third person singular

Etymology

To ebb as a verb means to slowly move away or grow weaker, just like the sea in ebb and flow. That is why we say energy or confidence can 'ebb' when it fades over time.