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Definition of dwindle

dwindle

/ˈdwɪn.dəl/
dwin · dle
Adjective:dwindling
•
Past Simple:dwindled
•
Past Participle:dwindled
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Present Participle:dwindling
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dwindle Lexical Profile

dwindle Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.

Example

"The community's water supply began to dwindle during the prolonged summer drought."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for dwindle

• Nearby Words

dweller
dwelling
dwellinghouse
dwindle
dye
dyeable
dyer

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 16th century as a frequentative form of the Middle English verb 'dwinen' (to waste away), which derives from Old English 'dwinan' (to pine away or shrink).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dwindle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dwindle
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