# diminishing

/dɪˈmɪnɪʃɪŋ/ (US) · /dɪmˈɪnɪʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diminishing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. becoming smaller or weaker

adjective · CEFR B2

getting smaller in size, amount, or strength.

For teachers: describing a state of progressive reduction or decrease in magnitude, intensity, or importance.

- The hikers watched the sunset with diminishing hope of finding the trail before dark.
- The company faced diminishing returns on its advertising spend, suggesting that the market had reached a point of total saturation.

### 3. a reduction

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the process of something becoming smaller.

For teachers: the act or process of becoming less or smaller; a diminishment.

- The diminishing of his influence within the party happened very quickly.
- The steady diminishing of natural resources in the region has led to significant economic instability for the local population.

## Examples

- The noise level is diminishing every hour.
- The company's market share is diminishing due to new competitors.
- As the initial excitement faded, the diminishing returns on their investment became painfully clear to the board members.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.