# fade

/ˈfeɪd/ (US) · /fˈeɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fade
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to lose color

verb · CEFR B1

to lose brightness or color, usually because of age or sunlight.

For teachers: to lose freshness, color, or brightness gradually over time.

- The blue curtains started to fade after hanging in the sunny window for years.
- The vibrant pigments in the tapestry had begun to fade, leaving only a ghostly suggestion of the original scene.

### 2. to disappear slowly

verb · CEFR B1

to become weaker or quieter until something disappears completely.

For teachers: to diminish in intensity, volume, or visibility until no longer perceptible.

- The sound of the car engine slowly faded as it drove down the road.
- As the sun dipped below the horizon, the last remnants of daylight faded into a deep purple twilight.

### 3. a haircut

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a hairstyle where the hair is very short on the sides and longer on top.

For teachers: a haircut characterized by a gradual transition from short or shaved hair at the neckline to longer hair on the crown.

- He went to the barber to get a fresh fade before the wedding.
- The barber demonstrated a high-taper fade, meticulously blending the hair to create a seamless transition from skin to length.

### 4. audio/video transition

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a slow change where a picture or sound gets darker or quieter.

For teachers: a gradual change in the intensity of an image or the volume of an audio signal.

- The song ends with a long fade so the next track can start smoothly.
- The director opted for a slow fade to black to emphasize the somber mood of the final scene.

### 5. to bet against

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

to bet against another person in a game of chance.

For teachers: to accept or cover a bet in gambling, particularly in dice games or sports betting.

- I decided to fade his bet because I didn't think he had a good hand.
- Experienced gamblers often fade the public's favorite team when the betting lines become too inflated by emotional bias.

Usage: The verb is transitive and takes the person or the bet as its object.

### 6. a fight

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a physical fight or a serious argument.

For teachers: a physical confrontation or altercation.

- He was acting tough and looked like he wanted to catch a fade.
- The tension in the club was palpable, with several groups looking ready to catch a fade over the slightest provocation.

Teaching tip: Commonly used in the phrase 'catch a fade', meaning to get into a fight or be beaten up.

## Examples

- The bright colors of the shirt fade after many washes.
- As the sun began to set, the music from the street festival started to fade into the distance.
- The candidate's early lead began to fade as more voters learned about his controversial past, eventually leaving him trailing in the polls.

---

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.