subside

verb

sub·​side səb-ˈsīd How to pronounce subside (audio)
subsided; subsiding
Synonyms of subside

intransitive verb

1
: to sink or fall to the bottom : settle
2
: to tend downward : descend
especially : to flatten out so as to form a depression
3
: to let oneself settle down : sink
subsided into a chair
4
: to become quiet or less
as the fever subsides
my anger subsided
subsidence
səb-ˈsī-dᵊn(t)s How to pronounce subside (audio) ˈsəb-sə-dən(t)s How to pronounce subside (audio)
noun

Synonyms of subside

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abate, subside, wane, ebb mean to die down in force or intensity.

abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

Examples of subside in a Sentence

The pain will subside in a couple of hours. After his anger had subsided, he was able to look at things rationally. We'll have to wait until the wind subsides. The road will remain closed until the water subsides.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And just as the eclipse excitement begins to subside, one of the best meteor showers of the year, the Perseids, will peak between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 The brutal nausea and vomiting of norovirus, for instance, subsides in one to three days; even the relentless diarrhea of cyclosporiasis can let up in a couple of days with an antibiotic. — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2026 The emails from McDonnell promising incoming bank wires and new revenue streams subsided. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 This type of wastewater surveillance may help determine when an outbreak is beginning to subside and where larger numbers of people are still affected. — Joan Rose, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subside

Word History

Etymology

Latin subsidere, from sub- + sidere to sit down, sink; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of subside was in 1607

Rhymes for subside

See All Rhymes for subside

Browse Nearby Words

subshrubby
subside
subsidence
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Cite this Entry

“Subside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subside. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

subside

verb
sub·​side səb-ˈsīd How to pronounce subside (audio)
subsided; subsiding
1
: to sink or fall to the bottom : settle
2
: to become quiet or less : abate
as the fever subsides
my anger subsided
subsidence
səb-ˈsīd-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce subside (audio)
ˈsəb-səd-ən(t)s
noun

Medical Definition

subside

intransitive verb
sub·​side səb-ˈsīd How to pronounce subside (audio)
subsided; subsiding
: to lessen in severity : become diminished
the fever subsided
subsidence
səb-ˈsīd-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce subside (audio) ˈsəb-səd-ən(t)s How to pronounce subside (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on subside

Nglish: Translation of subside for Spanish Speakers

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