waning

Everyday

1. Waning is the -ing form of «wane»: getting smaller or weaker little by little. tree →
2. The waning moon is the moon in the part of its cycle after the full moon, when the lit-up part we see gets smaller each night. tree →
3. Interest, light, strength or power that is waning is slowly fading away. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons the phases of the moon are «waxing» (growing) and «waning» (shrinking); a waning crescent comes just before the new moon. In everyday life and stories it describes something fading: waning light at dusk, waning interest, waning energy at the end of a long day. Phrases: «waning moon», «waning crescent», «waning gibbous», «on the wane».

Examples

• Tonight the moon is waning, so it looks thinner. tree →
• A waning crescent rises late at night. tree →
• The light was waning as we walked home. tree →
• His interest in the game was waning after an hour. tree →
• By the end of the race her energy was waning. tree →
• The storm was waning, and the rain grew softer. tree →
• After the full moon comes the waning gibbous moon. tree →
• The king's power was on the wane. tree →
• ‘Make one more struggle; it is nearly over now,’ said the horse, seeing that Petru’s strength was waning fast. tree →

Note

Opposite: waxing (growing). The moon itself does not change size; we just see less of its sunlit side. «Wane» is mainly used about the moon, light and feelings, not about objects you could measure with a ruler. Do not mix with «warning» (telling someone about danger) — they look alike.