Word
dwindling
Phoneticsdwin·dling
US/ˈdwɪndəɫɪŋ/
UK/dwˈɪndlɪŋ/
Definition
adj. becoming smaller in size or amount over time. You use this to describe things like money, supplies, or hope that are slowly running out.
adj. gradually diminishing in size, amount, or strength. Often used to describe resources, populations, or abstract qualities like support or interest.
Examples
“The hikers worried about their dwindling water supply.”
“The company struggled to stay afloat as it faced dwindling profits and rising competition.”
“Conservationists are deeply concerned about the dwindling population of local songbirds, whose habitats have been fragmented by rapid urban development over the last decade.”
Examples
simple
“The hikers worried about their dwindling water supply.”
contextual
“The company struggled to stay afloat as it faced dwindling profits and rising competition.”
complex
“Conservationists are deeply concerned about the dwindling population of local songbirds, whose habitats have been fragmented by rapid urban development over the last decade.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; derived from the present participle of the verb 'dwindle'.
Real-World Examples
“NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with Kevin Book of ClearView Energy about the United States' dwindling oil reserves as they hit the lowest level seen in more than four decades.” “Queues formed outside corner shops in London in the early hours as hopeful customers waited to get their hands on dwindling supplies of the glasses.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/dwindling