English Reference
Adjective

vanishing

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/ UK /vˈænɪʃɪŋ/ van·ish·ing

adj.disappearing or becoming impossible to see. You use this to describe something that is slowly going away until it is gone.

adj.becoming invisible or ceasing to exist; decreasing rapidly in number or presence. Often used as a participial adjective to describe species, cultures, or physical traces.


SIMPLE

The ship became a vanishing speck on the horizon.

CONTEXTUAL

Conservationists are working hard to protect the vanishing habitats of local wildlife before they are lost forever.

COMPLEX

The documentary explores the vanishing traditions of nomadic tribes whose way of life is being eroded by rapid urbanisation and climate change.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; often pairs with 'point' to describe perspective in art.

Seen from nearly 195 million miles away, our planet was reduced to a single point of light before briefly vanishing behind Phobos.

ScienceDaily· 13 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated