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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

dwindle

Verb

IPA /ˈdwɪndl/

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Meaning in plain English

To gradually become smaller in number, amount or strength.

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Pronunciation

dwindle/ˈdwɪndl/

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  1. The supply starts out plentiful

  2. Less remains as time passes

  3. Only a small amount is left

To dwindle is to decrease gradually in amount or number.

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Examples in context

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  1. Our picnic supplies dwindled as more friends arrived.
  2. Attendance at the optional lectures dwindled during exam season.

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To gradually become smaller in number, amount or strength.
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dwindle — To gradually become smaller in number, amount or strength.

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To gradually become smaller in number, amount or strength.

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Word origin

Related to Scots and dialect dwine, from Old English dwinan, meaning to fade or waste away.

Did you know?

Dwindle from one amount to another shows the change clearly.

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@englishskillstudio

dwindle

/ˈdwɪndl/ (Verb)

“Dwindle is normally intransitive: funds dwindle. Say reduce the funds if someone causes the reduction.”

englishskillstudio.com