WANING Definition & Meaning

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waning

[ wey-ning ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

decreasing in strength, intensity, etc.:
Many teens in focus groups expressed waning enthusiasm for social media.
declining in power, importance, prosperity, etc.:
The recent hacking of the retailer’s credit card system will have devastating implications for its already waning business.
drawing to a close; approaching an end:
The bill will likely be passed in the waning days of this legislative session.
(of the moon) decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon:
The crescent of fine white sand, wrapped around the bay, looked like a waning moon.

the process of decreasing, declining, or coming to an end:
The Middle Ages occurred between the waning of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance.
(of the moon) the process of decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon:
Onion seeds are planted in the fall, during the waning of the Harvest Moon.

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Origin of waning¹

First recorded before 900; wan(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; wan(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

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Examples have not been reviewed.

In the 1960s, the waning days of America’s liberal reform movement, Republicans presented themselves as the flinty-eyed bearers of realism.

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We had years where our success was waning.

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As a result, the UK's historic musical dominance is waning.

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Of course, “The West Wing” was born in the waning days of Bill Clinton’s presidency and hit its stride before Sept. 11, 2001, and the dawn of “24.”

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He bridges his two passions with ‘Eephus,’ a movie that captures a waning pastime.

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