wane meaning

the word 'wane' means to become smaller or weaker over time.

wane :

decrease, decline

noun

▪ The wane of the moon is beautiful.

▪ The decrease of the moon is beautiful.

▪ There is a wane in interest for that topic.

▪ There is a decline in interest for that topic.

paraphrasing

▪ decline – a decrease in strength

▪ reduction – a smaller amount

wane

wane :

to decrease, to lessen

verb

▪ The light will wane at dusk.

▪ The light will decrease at dusk.

▪ Her enthusiasm began to wane.

▪ Her enthusiasm started to lessen.

paraphrasing

▪ diminish – to make less

▪ fade – to lose brightness

wane :

decrease, decline

noun

▪ The wane of the season is noticeable.

▪ The decrease of the season is noticeable.

▪ A wane in sales can be concerning.

▪ A decline in sales can be concerning.

paraphrasing

▪ wane – decrease

▪ downturn – a decline in success

Pronunciation

wane [weɪn]

The stress is on 'wane' and sounds like 'wayn'.

wane [weɪn]

The stress is on 'wane' and sounds like 'wayn'.

Common phrases and grammar about wane

wane - Common meaning

noun
decrease, decline
verb
to decrease, to lessen
noun
decrease, decline

Part of Speech Changes for "wane"

▪ waning (adjective) – decreasing in size or strength

▪ waned (adjective) – reduced in size or strength

Common Expressions with "wane"

▪ wane of the moon – the time when the moon becomes smaller

▪ wane in popularity – a decrease in how much people like something

▪ wane of interest – a decline in interest or attention

▪ wane over time – to decrease as time goes on

Important examples of wane in TOEIC

Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test

In TOEIC vocabulary questions, wane is often used to describe the decrease of something over time.

▪The interest in the topic began to wane.
▪The interest in the topic started to decrease.

Example of a confusing word: gain (to increase)

▪The interest in the topic began to gain.
▪The interest in the topic started to increase.
"Wane" is an intransitive verb meaning "to decrease gradually" or "to diminish in strength or intensity," often used in contexts like interest, influence, or popularity. In the sentence "The interest in the topic began to wane," it is used correctly to indicate a decline. "Gain," on the other hand, means "to increase" and is the opposite of "wane." The sentence "The interest in the topic began to gain" is grammatically correct but semantically opposite, making "wane" the appropriate choice for describing a decrease.

Grammar examples from the TOEIC test

Wane is often used as an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object in grammar questions.

▪The moon will wane tonight.
▪The moon will decrease tonight.

wane

Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC

wane in popularity

means 'to become less popular', used when something is losing its appeal.

▪The wane in popularity of the show is clear.
▪The decrease in popularity of the show is clear.

wane with age

means 'to become weaker as one gets older', used to describe loss of strength or ability.

▪As we age, our strength may wane.
▪As we get older, our strength may decrease.

Differences between similar words and wane

wane

,

diminish

differences

Wane refers to a gradual decrease over time, while diminish often implies a more immediate reduction.

wane
▪The moon will wane tonight.
▪The moon will decrease tonight.
diminish
▪The noise began to diminish.
▪The noise started to get quieter.

wane

,

fade

differences

Wane means to decrease over time, while fade often means to lose brightness or color quickly.

wane
▪The colors will wane in the sunlight.
▪The colors will lose brightness quickly.
fade
▪The colors will fade quickly.
▪The colors will lose brightness quickly.

Words with the same origin as wane

The origin of wane

Wane comes from the Old English word 'wanian', meaning 'to lessen or diminish'.

Word structure

The composition is unknown.

Words with the same origin

The root of wane is unclear or difficult to confirm.

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