subside

[ suhb-sahyd ]

verb (used without object)

, sub·sid·ed, sub·sid·ing.

1. to sink to a low or lower level.

   Synonyms: settle, descend, decline

   Antonyms: rise

2. to become quiet, less active, or less violent; abate:

   The laughter subsided.

   Synonyms: ebb, wane, lessen, diminish

   Antonyms: increase

3. to sink or fall to the bottom; settle; precipitate:

   to cause coffee grounds to subside.

subside

/ səbˈsaɪd /

verb

1. to become less loud, excited, violent, etc; abate
2. to sink or fall to a lower level
3. (of the surface of the earth, etc) to cave in; collapse
4. (of sediment, etc) to sink or descend to the bottom; settle

Derived Forms

• subˈsider, noun

Other Words From

• sub·sid·ence [s, uh, b-, sahyd, -ns, suhb, -si-dns], noun
• sub·sider noun
• nonsub·siding adjective
• unsub·sided adjective
• unsub·siding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subside¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin subsīdere, from sub- sub- + sīdere “to sit down, settle” ( sit ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of subside¹

C17: from Latin subsīdere to settle down, from sub- down + sīdere to settle

Example Sentences

The mayor has urged people to stay inside, as the local population waits for the latest flood alert to subside.

From BBC

As winds started to subside Thursday night, firefighters made their first inroads against the blaze, reaching 5% containment.

From Los Angeles Times

The irrationality that motivates so many on the right isn’t going to subside.

From Slate

In her years working on Skid Row, Wong said, she saw that newly housed clients might see their symptoms of paranoia or schizophrenia subside only to suffer a new bout of depression.

From Los Angeles Times

By the time we got to Kansas, the Trump fever, indeed the presidential race fever began to subside.

From Salon

Related Words

• abate
• descend
• diminish
• dwindle
• ease
• ease off
• ebb
• melt
• peter out
• recede
• slacken
• wane