Word
dwindle
Phoneticsdwin·dle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdwɪndəɫ/
UK/dwˈɪndəl/
Definition
v. to become smaller, weaker, or fewer over time. You use it when something slowly disappears, like money, crowds, or hope.
v. to diminish gradually in size, amount, strength, or number. Implies a slow, continuous decline toward disappearance or a negligible remainder.
Examples
“Our savings dwindle when we eat out every night.”
“The crowd at the market dwindles after sunset as vendors pack up their stalls.”
“As funding dwindles year after year, the library reduces its hours and postpones repairs it once completed without hesitation.”
Examples
simple
“Our savings dwindle when we eat out every night.”
contextual
“The crowd at the market dwindles after sunset as vendors pack up their stalls.”
complex
“As funding dwindles year after year, the library reduces its hours and postpones repairs it once completed without hesitation.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dwindle” in context.
Verb
01. crowd dwindles
“The crowd dwindled to a handful by the end of the concert.”
noun + verb
02. dwindle away
“Without new members, the club will simply dwindle away.”
verb + particle
03. dwindle to nothing
“Without sales, profits dwindled to nothing within a year.”
verb + prep + noun
04. hope dwindles
“Hope dwindled as rescue teams found no survivors.”
noun + verb
05. see dwindle
“Residents saw local support dwindle after the funding cuts.”
verb + verb
Adjective
06. gradually dwindle
“Attendance gradually dwindled as the winter evenings grew colder.”
adv + verb
07. rapidly dwindle
“Optimism rapidly dwindled after the team lost twice in a row.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. dwindle in number
“Wild tigers have dwindled in number over the last century.”
verb + prep + noun
09. dwindle in size
“The audience dwindled in size after the interval.”
verb + prep + noun
10. dwindle away to nothing
“Without funding, the project dwindled away to nothing.”
11. dwindle to a handful
“The audience dwindled to a handful after midnight.”
12. numbers dwindle to zero
“Attendance numbers dwindled to zero by August.”
Usage
Intransitive; takes no direct object. Often followed by 'to', 'away', or 'down to' to mark the endpoint.
Pitfall
They dwindled the supplies
The supplies dwindled
Dwindle is intransitive — the subject itself becomes smaller; it cannot take a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“He also indicated that Ukraine’s dwindling stock of anti-air weapons made it difficult to shoot down many of the loitering munitions, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles being launched each night at Ukraine.” “The strikes on Ukraine’s energy system have become the country’s new frontlines – and the country is badly outgunned, as its stocks of US-provided PAC-3 missiles have dwindled.” “As housing stock dwindles and demand continues to increase - led by Spain’s rapid population growth in recent years - Spanish authorities have done little to fast-track construction of new affordable housing.” “Ukraine, meanwhile, has struggled to shoot down incoming missiles and jet-powered drones and has appealed to partners to boost its dwindling supplies of US-made Patriot missiles.” Etymology
Frequentative form of dwine, from Middle English dwinen, 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, dvína, Dutch verdwijnen (“to disappear, dwindle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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