dwindle

Definition

To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity.

Etymology

Frequentative form of dwine, from Middle English dwinen, from Old English dwīnan (“to waste away”), from Proto-West Germanic *dwīnan, from Proto-Germanic *dwīnaną. It is equivalent to dwine + -le, akin to Old Norse dvena, dvína, Dutch verdwijnen (“to disappear, dwindle”).

Example Sentences

• "Their supplies began to dwindle after a week."
• "Interest in the project slowly dwindled."
• "dwindle away"