Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

ebb

[eb]

noun

  1. the flowing back of the tide as the water returns to the sea (flood,flow ).

  2. a flowing backward or away; decline or decay.

    the ebb of a once great nation.

  3. a point of decline.

    His fortunes were at a low ebb.



verb (used without object)

  1. to flow back or away, as the water of a tide (flow ).

    Synonyms: , , ,
  2. to decline or decay; fade away.

    His life is gradually ebbing.

    Synonyms: , ,

ebb

/ ɛ /

verb

  1. (of tide water) to flow back or recede Compare flow

  2. to fall away or decline

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

    1. the flowing back of the tide from high to low water or the period in which this takes place

    2. ( as modifier ) Compare flood

      the ebb tide

  1. in a state or period of weakness, lack of vigour, or decline

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • unebbed adjective
  • unebbing adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of ebb1

before 1000; (noun) Middle English eb ( be ), Old English ebba; cognate with Old Frisian ebba, Dutch eb ( be ), German Ebbe ebb, Old Norse efja place where water backs up; (v.) Middle English ebben, Old English ebbian, derivative of the noun; akin to off
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of ebb1

Old English ebba; related to Old Norse efja river bend, Gothic ibuks moving backwards, Old High German 辱ō to roll backwards, Middle Dutch ebbe ebb
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idioms beginning with ebb, also see at a low ebb.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“It speaks to the various paradoxes around this — it’s a movement that ebbs and flows,” he said.

From

Thursday’s internal email from Children’s leadership notes the pressure from the federal government has risen at the same time that support from the state has ebbed.

From

Remember, when Bernie was at high ebb in primaries, a lot of traditional Democrats on Wall Street and elsewhere were quoted as saying if Sanders is the nominee they might go with Trump.

From

The disrepair is one indication of how the Catholic Church's power and influence has been ebbing away in America's big cities.

From

That support at the policy level has only strengthened over the decades, but it is important to note that historic American opinion polling shows public opinion has ebbed and flowed before.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


eBayerebb and flow