Meaning
Subside means to become less intense, violent, or severe. It can also mean to sink to a lower level, or to gradually go down.
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: Verb
- Type: Intransitive (does not take a direct object)
Common patterns
- Pain subsides → The pain becomes weaker.
- Floodwaters subside → Water levels go down.
- Anger subsides → Strong emotions calm down.
Common Phrases
- The storm subsided
- Her anger subsided
- The pain subsided
- The noise subsided
Collocations
- Pain + subside
- Storm + subside
- Fear + subside
- Flood + subside
- Excitement + subside
Examples
- The storm finally subsided after three hours of heavy rain.
- His anger subsided when she apologized.
- The floodwaters began to subside after the rain stopped.
- She waited until the excitement had subsided before speaking.
- The swelling in his ankle slowly subsided.
- The noise from the crowd subsided as the speaker began.
- Her nervousness subsided after the first few minutes of the presentation.
- When the pain subsided, he could finally walk again.
Synonyms or Related
- Decrease
- Diminish
- Abate
- Ease off
- Lessen
Antonym
- Increase
- Intensify
- Escalate
- Rise