waning

[ wey-ning ]

adjective

1. decreasing in strength, intensity, etc.:

   Many teens in focus groups expressed waning enthusiasm for social media.

2. declining in power, importance, prosperity, etc.:

   The recent hacking of the retailer’s credit card system will have devastating implications for its already waning business.

3. drawing to a close; approaching an end:

   The bill will likely be passed in the waning days of this legislative session.

4. (of the moon) decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon:

   The crescent of fine white sand, wrapped around the bay, looked like a waning moon.

noun

1. the process of decreasing, declining, or coming to an end:

   The Middle Ages occurred between the waning of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance.

2. (of the moon) the process of decreasing in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon:

   Onion seeds are planted in the fall, during the waning of the Harvest Moon.

Other Words From

• un·wan·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of waning¹

First recorded before 900; wan(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; wan(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

The benefits of vaccination, even if there is some waning, will last years.

From Time

The slowdown in ad job growth could indicate the “waning days” of the current economic expansion, or it could just be that agencies are opting to play it safe.

From Search Engine Land

His fusion band, Return to Forever, would soon become one of the most popular groups of the era, with several of its albums sailing into the Billboard Top 40 during a time when the marketability of jazz was on the wane.

From Time

Almost $60 billion worth of stock changed hands at $695 a share, most of it in one giant trade in the session’s waning seconds.

From Fortune

On Sunday, the Jets fell to 0-12, after allowing a long touchdown pass in the game’s waning seconds.

From Washington Post

For progressives, the waning days of 2014 should be as dark a moment as their movement has faced since 2004.

From The Daily Beast

The government report states the “outbreak [of beetles] is waning.”

From The Daily Beast

As we enter the waning years of the Obama Administration, America remains as divided as ever on matters of race.

From The Daily Beast

However, her popularity is waning as the big 3-0 approaches, so Garfield decides to dump her at an antique furniture store.

From The Daily Beast

But, again, with enthusiasm for Modern Family waning as the buzz for Veep continues to grow, Tony Hale should win again this year.

From The Daily Beast

When it is new, and also when in its waning stages it is visible in the daytime, the spherical form is very apparent.

From Project Gutenberg

My waning strength is a source of satisfaction: perhaps it indicates the approach of death.

From Project Gutenberg

Any attack of illness that happened to the emperor was directly attributed to the waning popularity of the oath.

From Project Gutenberg

The afternoon of a summer's day was deepening into twilight, but the waning light sufficed to show the features of the occupants.

From Project Gutenberg

Such as still lingered shone with a changed and waning brightness, and began to faint in their stations.

From Project Gutenberg