dwindling — gradually becoming smaller, fewer, or less; decreasing
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: gradually becoming smaller, fewer, or less; decreasing
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdwɪndlɪŋ/
Example Sentences
- His dwindling hairline made him consider buying a hat collection.
- The dwindling attendance at the meeting suggested pizza wasn't a strong enough incentive.
- Climate change is causing dwindling water supplies in many regions.
dwindling
ADJECTIVE[/ˈdwɪndlɪŋ/]
gradually becoming smaller, fewer, or less; decreasing
The forest's dwindling trees vanish one by one as loggers advance each year.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Dwindling derives from Middle English 'dwinen', meaning 'to dwindle, waste away, or diminish', which originated in 16th-century Scotland. The word evolved semantically from its original sense of physical withering to its modern meaning of gradually decreasing in size, amount, or intensity.
Breakdown
dwinen (to waste away, diminish) + -le (diminutive or frequentative suffix), forming the present participle 'dwindling' to express the progressive action of gradually reducing or declining.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His dwindling hairline made him consider buying a hat collection.”
“The dwindling attendance at the meeting suggested pizza wasn't a strong enough incentive.”
“Climate change is causing dwindling water supplies in many regions.”
“The company's dwindling market share prompted a major restructuring.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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