dwindle Meaning & Definition
What Does Dwindle Mean?
As a verb, dwindle means to become steadily less. It is also used to mean to make steadily less.
Word Facts for Dwindle
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdwin-dᵊl/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | dwindle away, dwindle down and abate |
| Antonyms | aggrandize, amplify and augment |
| Verb forms | dwindles, dwindling, dwindled |
Dwindle Definition (Verb)
- to become steadily less : shrink
Their savings dwindled to nothing. / a dwindling population
- to make steadily less
Synonyms of Dwindle
Antonyms of Dwindle
Dwindle in a Sentence
Their supplies began to dwindle after a week.
Interest in the project slowly dwindled.
dwindle away
dwindle to nothing
dwindle steadily
Their savings dwindled to nothing.
a dwindling population
the long winter dwindled our supply of firewood to practically nothing
our hopes dwindled as the reports of more casualties came in
Their savings dwindled to nothing. / a dwindling population
Word Forms & Grammar
dwin·dled
dwin·dling
dwindle
dwindled
dwindles
dwindling
dwindle (third-person singular simple present dwindles, present participle dwindling, simple past and past participle dwindled)
Words That Rhyme With Dwindle
Origin of Dwindle
Origin 1: probably frequentative of dwine to waste away, from Middle English, from Old English dwīnan; akin to Old Norse dvīna to pine away, deyja to die die
Origin 2: Frequentative form of dwine, from Middle English dwynen, from Old English dwīnan (“to waste away”), from Proto-West Germanic *dwīnan, from Proto-Germanic *dwīnaną. It is equivalent to dwine + -le, akin to Old Norse dvena,[1] dvína,[2][3] Dutch verdwijnen (“to disappear, dwindle”).
First Known Use
1596i
Dwindle Pronunciation
The standard pronunciation of dwindle is /ˈdwin-dᵊl/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (dwin).
Dwindle: Your Questions Answered
What part of speech is dwindle?
Dwindle is a verb.
What is another word for dwindle?
Words with a similar meaning to dwindle include dwindle away, dwindle down and abate. See the full list of dwindle synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of dwindle?
Words opposite in meaning to dwindle are aggrandize, amplify, augment and boost.
What is the past tense of dwindle?
The past tense of dwindle is dwindled. The present participle is dwindling.