Word
withered
Phoneticswith·ered, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɪðɝd/
UK/wˈɪðəd/
Definition
v. to lose water and become dry, thin, or dead. You often see this happen to plants when they do not get enough water or light.
v. to lose moisture and become dry, shrivelled, or dead. Often describes the physical state of plants or the emotional state of a person.
Examples
“The flowers withered in the heat of the summer.”
“After the long drought, the once-green fields were reduced to a patchwork of withered grass and dry soil.”
“The old man's face was lined with the marks of a life spent in the sun, his skin withered by decades of exposure to the harsh desert winds.”
Examples
simple
“The flowers withered in the heat of the summer.”
contextual
“After the long drought, the once-green fields were reduced to a patchwork of withered grass and dry soil.”
complex
“The old man's face was lined with the marks of a life spent in the sun, his skin withered by decades of exposure to the harsh desert winds.”
Real-World Examples
“Now, researchers are beginning to understand how it manages to thrive in conditions that leave other plants burned, brown and withered.” “Instead, they have withered to just 0.2% of payments made in the UK - with a total of 77 million written last year.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/withered