ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fading

v. · n.
US //ˈfeɪdɪŋ// UK //fˈeɪdɪŋ// fad·ing
  1. 1 losing color or light (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    becoming less bright, clear, or loud.

    the act of gradually losing brightness, loudness, or clarity of color.

    Example

    The sunlight was fading as the storm clouds moved across the sky.

    Example

    The fading light of the late afternoon cast long, distorted shadows across the empty courtyard, signaling the end of the workday.
  2. 2 losing strength (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    losing power, health, or importance.

    the gradual diminishment of physical strength, health, or social influence.

    Example

    The runner's energy was fading during the final mile of the race.

    Example

    Despite the initial excitement, public interest in the scandal was fading rapidly as newer headlines dominated the news cycle.
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  1. 3 gradual diminishment (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the slow process of something disappearing or getting weaker.

    the process or instance of gradual disappearance or loss of intensity.

    Example

    The fading of the old traditions worried the village elders.

    Example

    The gradual fading of the fresco was attributed to centuries of exposure to humidity and direct sunlight.
  2. 4 song refrain (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Music

    the repeated part or ending of an old song.

    the burden or refrain of a song; historically used to refer to the concluding part of a musical piece.

    Example

    The old ballad ended with a melancholy fading that the audience hummed along to.

    Example

    Scholars of Elizabethan music often debate the specific rhythmic structure of the fading used in traditional Irish folk songs.

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