subside

Everyday

1. To subside is to become weaker, calmer or less strong: the storm subsided, the pain subsided. tree →
2. When water subsides, it goes down to a lower level: the flood waters subsided. tree →
3. When land or a building subsides, it sinks lower into the ground. tree →

In the lessons

Formal word in exam and news language; in science lessons, floods subside, wind subsides, a fever subsides. In stories it shows that danger or strong feeling is passing. Plain words: die down, calm down, go down, sink.

Examples

• After an hour, the storm began to subside. tree →
• The flood waters subsided and people went home. tree →
• Her fever subsided after she took the medicine. tree →
• Wait until the pain subsides before you walk on your ankle. tree →
• The laughter subsided when the teacher came in. tree →
• The old house had subsided, so the doors no longer shut. tree →
• The wind subsided, and the boat sailed on. tree →
• No sooner had he said this to himself than the storm began to subside. tree →

Note

Pronounced sub-SIDE. Regular verb: subsided. Noun for land sinking is «subsidence». Do not mix up with «subsidise» (to give money to help). In formal maths: «the water level subsided by 30 cm» means it went down 30 cm, so subtract.