# ebb

/ˈɛb/ (US) · /ˈɛb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ebb
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. tide flowing back

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to flow back towards the sea, away from the land.

For teachers: to recede or flow back from the shore, specifically in reference to the tide.

- We watched the water ebb away from the rocks as the tide went out.
- As the tide began to ebb, vast stretches of shimmering mudflats were revealed, attracting flocks of wading birds to the estuary.

Usage: Intransitive verb; often used with the particle 'away' or 'out'.

### 2. to weaken or decline

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to slowly become less or weaker.

For teachers: to decline or diminish gradually in intensity, power, or quality.

- His confidence started to ebb after he failed the first part of the test.
- Support for the new policy began to ebb as the public realised the long-term economic consequences of the proposed changes.

Usage: Intransitive verb; frequently used in the phrase 'ebb and flow'.

### 4. a low point

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a state of being very low or weak.

For teachers: a point or condition of decline or depression.

- The company's fortunes were at a low ebb before the new CEO arrived.
- During the winter months, his creative energy reached such a low ebb that he considered abandoning the project entirely.

Usage: Commonly used in the fixed expression 'at a low ebb'.

## Examples

- We walked along the sand during the ebb of the tide.
- The business faced a difficult period during the economic ebb of the late nineties.
- The natural ebb and flow of the conversation suggested a deep, unspoken understanding between the two old friends as they sat by the fire.

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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.