ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ebb away

phr. v..
C1 Advanced Oxford

phr. v.. to slowly decrease or disappear, like the tide going out or a feeling getting weaker.

phr. v.. to gradually diminish or recede; often used metaphorically to describe the slow loss of an abstract quality such as confidence, strength, or life.


SIMPLE

His anger began to ebb away after he took a deep breath.

CONTEXTUAL

As the sun set, the crowd's energy started to ebb away and people began heading home.

COMPLEX

The patient's strength continued to ebb away despite the medical team's best efforts to stabilize his condition.

Particles
away
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
verb + away
Usage

usually intransitive and used to describe feelings, qualities, or physical life.

Teaching tip

anchor this to the literal 'ebb tide' (the tide going out) to help students visualize the slow, natural movement of something leaving.

Pitfall

The pain ebbed away it.The pain ebbed away.this phrasal verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

© 2026 English Reference