ENGLISH
REFERENCE

waning

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈweɪnɪŋ// UK //wˈeɪnɪŋ// wan·ing

adj. becoming smaller, weaker, or less important. You use this to describe things that are slowly disappearing or losing power.

adj. decreasing in size, strength, importance, or intensity. Often describes the moon's visible surface between a full moon and a new moon, or the decline of abstract qualities like influence or interest.


SIMPLE

The politician struggled to regain his waning popularity.

CONTEXTUAL

As the sun set, the waning light made it difficult for the hikers to find the trail back to camp.

COMPLEX

The empire's waning influence over its distant colonies eventually led to a series of peaceful transitions toward independent governance.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English waninge, alteration of earlier waniand, waniende, from Old English waniende, from Proto-Germanic wanōndz, present participle of Proto-Germanic wanōną (“to wane”), equivalent to wane + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English waning, waninge, wonunge, from Old English wanung (“waning; diminution”), from Proto-Germanic *wanungō, equivalent to wane + -ing.

Usage

Commonly used as a participial adjective before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.

Pitfall

his waning from powerhis waning powerIn modern usage, 'waning' is most commonly an adjective describing a noun, rather than a noun itself.

© 2026 English Reference