witherwith‧er /ˈwɪðə $ -ər/ (also wither away) verb 
Word Origin Examples
His career had withered. The organization just withered away.3wither on the vine if something withers on the vine, it gradually ends because it is not given enough support: The government has allowed the program to wither on the vine by reducing its funding.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINwither
Verb TableOrigin:
1300-1400 Probably from weather ‘to affect with sun, wind, rain, etc.’VERB TABLE
wither
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | wither |
| he, she, it | withers | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | withered |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have withered |
| he, she, it | has withered | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had withered |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will wither |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have withered |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am withering |
| he, she, it | is withering | |
| you, we, they | are withering | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was withering |
| you, we, they | were withering | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been withering |
| he, she, it | has been withering | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been withering |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be withering |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been withering |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- And Basho: On a journey, ill, and over fields all withered, dreams go wandering.
- Boils and sores burst out over his flesh, his body becomes hunched and arthritic, his skin aged and withered.
- He did, however, curtail his withering critique.
- Joe was in top form, spinning stories, issuing pronunciamentos, dropping withering quips at every opportunity.
- Programmes would wither away if they did not command sufficient local support.
- The fame of Anacreon had withered to nothing with the decay of the times.
- They uprooted them, as Marshall had uprooted the cannabis, and watched them wither.
- Words to express her feelings seemed to wither and die inside her.
WORD SETS► Plants
Collocationsacacia, nounacorn, nounalmond, nounaloe vera, nounanemone, nounangelica, nounaniseed, nounannual, nounanther, nounapricot, nounaquatic, adjectivearboreal, adjectivearboretum, nounartichoke, nounash, nounasparagus, nounaspen, nounaspidistra, nounaubergine, nounavocado, nounbalsa, nounbalsam, nounbamboo, nounbark, nounbarley, nounbasil, nounbay, nounbay leaf, nounbean, nounbeech, nounbeet, nounbegonia, nounbelladonna, nounbetel, nounbiennial, adjectivebilberry, nounbindweed, nounbiotechnology, nounbirch, nounblackberry, nounblackcurrant, nounblackthorn, nounbloom, nounbloom, verbblossom, nounblossom, verbbluebell, nounblueberry, nounbole, nounboll, nounbotanical, adjectivebotanist, nounbotany, nounbougainvillea, nounbough, nounbox, nounbracken, nounbranch, nounbreadfruit, nounbriar, nounbrier, nounbroad bean, nounbroadleaved, adjectivebroccoli, nounbroom, nounBrussels sprout, nounbud, nounbud, verbbulb, nounbulrush, nounburr, nounbush, nounbusy Lizzie, nounbutter bean, nounbuttercup, nouncabbage, nouncacao, nouncactus, nouncalyx, nouncamellia, nouncanopy, nouncantaloup, nouncapsicum, nouncaraway, nouncarnation, nouncarrot, nouncashew, nouncassava, nouncatkin, nouncauliflower, nouncedar, nouncelery, nouncellulose, nounchard, nouncherry, nounchervil, nounchestnut, nounchickweed, nounchicory, nounChinese leaves, nounchives, nounchlorophyll, nounchokecherry, nounchrysanthemum, nouncilantro, nouncitron, nouncitronella, nouncitrus, nounclematis, nounclementine, nounclimber, nounclove, nounclover, nouncloverleaf, nouncoca, nouncocoa bean, nouncoconut, nouncoffee bean, nouncollard greens, nouncone, nounconifer, nounconker, nouncopper beech, nouncore, nouncoriander, nouncorn, nouncorncob, nouncornflower, nouncotton, nouncottonwood, nouncovert, nouncowslip, nouncrabgrass, nouncreep, verbcreeper, nouncress, nouncrocus, nouncrop, verbcross-fertilize, verbcultivate, verbcultivation, nouncumin, nouncutting, nouncyclamen, nouncypress, noundaffodil, noundahlia, noundaisy, noundamson, noundandelion, noundandelion clock, noundate, noundeadly nightshade, noundeciduous, adjectivedill, noundock, noundouble, adjectiveduckweed, nounDutch elm disease, nounelder, nounelderberry, nounelm, nounendive, nounetiolated, adjectiveeucalyptus, nounevergreen, adjectiveevergreen, nounfemale, adjectivefennel, nounfern, nounfertilize, verbfibre, nounfig leaf, nounfir, nounflax, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflora, nounflower, verbfoliage, nounforget-me-not, nounfoxglove, nounfreesia, nounfrond, nounfruit, nounfruit, verbfuchsia, nounfungal, adjectivefungus, nounfurze, noungardenia, noungentian, noungeranium, noungerminate, verbginger, noungladiolus, noungooseberry, noungorse, noungourd, noungrape, noungrapefruit, noungrapevine, noungrass, noungrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreen bean, noungreengage, noungreen onion, noungreen pepper, noungroundnut, nounguava, noungum, noungum tree, nounhardy, adjectiveharicot, nounhawthorn, nounhazel, nounhazelnut, nounheart, nounheath, nounheather, nounhedgerow, nounheliotrope, nounhemlock, nounhemp, nounherb, nounherbaceous, adjectivehibiscus, nounhickory, nounhip, nounholly, nounhollyhock, nounhoneysuckle, nounhorse chestnut, nounhorseradish, nounhuckleberry, nounhusk, nounhyacinth, nounhybrid, nouniris, nounivy, nounjasmine, nounJerusalem artichoke, nounjuniper, nounkale, nounkelp, nounkernel, nounkidney bean, nounkumquat, nounlaburnum, nounlarch, nounlaurel, nounlavender, nounleader, nounleaf, nounleaf mould, nounleek, nounlegume, nounlemon, nounlentil, nounlettuce, nounlichen, nounlilac, nounlily, nounlily of the valley, nounlima bean, nounlimb, nounlime, nounlinden, nounlinseed, nounlocoweed, nounlog, nounloganberry, nounlotus, nounlush, adjectivelychee, nounmagnolia, nounmahogany, nounmale, adjectivemallow, nounmandrake, nounmangrove, nounmaple, nounmarigold, nounmarrow, nounmay, nounmilkweed, nounmimosa, nounmint, nounmistletoe, nounmorning glory, nounmoss, nounmountain ash, nounmulberry, nounmustard, nounmycology, nounmyrrh, nounmyrtle, nounnarcissus, nounnasturtium, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnaturalist, nounnectarine, nounneedle, nounnettle, nounnodal, adjectivenode, nounnodule, nounnut, nounnutshell, nounoak, nounoffshoot, nounoilseed rape, nounoleander, nounolive, nounorchard, nounorchid, nounosier, nounovary, nounovergrown, adjectiveovergrowth, nounox-eye, nounpalm, nounpalm tree, nounpampas grass, nounpansy, nounpapyrus, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectiveparsley, nounparsnip, nounpassionflower, nounpeach, nounpear, nounpeat, nounpecan, nounpeony, nounpeppermint, nounperennial, adjectiveperennial, nounperiwinkle, nounpersimmon, nounpetal, nounpetunia, nounphlox, nounphotosynthesis, nounpimento, nounpimpernel, nounpine, nounpineapple, nounpinewood, nounpink, nounpinto bean, nounpip, nounpippin, nounpistachio, nounpistil, nounpit, nounpitch pine, nounpith, nounplane, nounplane tree, nounplankton, nounplant, nounplant, verbplantain, nounplum, nounpod, nounpoinsettia, nounpoison ivy, nounpoison oak, nounpollen, nounpollen count, nounpollinate, verbpoplar, nounpoppy, nounpoppyseed, nounpotato, nounprickle, nounprickly, adjectiveprickly pear, nounprimrose, nounprimula, nounprivet, nounpropagate, verbpuffball, nounpulp, nounpussy willow, nounragweed, nounragwort, nounramble, verbrambler, nounrampant, adjectiverank, adjectiverape, nounraspberry, nounrattan, nounredcurrant, nounredwood, nounreed, nounreedy, adjectiveresin, nounrhizome, nounrhododendron, nounrhubarb, nounrice, nounrind, nounripe, adjectiveripen, verbroot, nounroot, verbrose, nounrosebud, nounrosemary, nounrubber plant, nounrunner, nounrunner bean, nounrush, nounsac, nounsagebrush, nounsandalwood, nounsap, nounsapling, nounsappy, adjectivesapwood, nounsassafras, nounsavory, nounscallion, nounscion, nounscrub, nounscrubby, adjectiveseaweed, nounsedge, nounseed, nounseed, verbseedling, nounsegment, nounsenna, nounsepal, nounsequoia, nounsesame, nounset, nounshallot, nounshamrock, nounshed, verbshoot, verbshoot, nounshrub, nounsilver birch, nounskin, nounsloe, nounsnapdragon, nounsnowdrop, nounsorghum, nounsorrel, nounsoya bean, nounspearmint, nounspinach, nounspiny, adjectivespore, nounsprig, nounspring onion, nounsprout, verbsprout, nounspruce, nounsquash, nounstalk, nounstamen, nounstem, nounstigma, nounstinging nettle, nounstock, nounstraw, nounstrawberry, nounstring bean, nounstump, nounsucculent, nounsucker, nounsugar, nounsugar beet, nounsugarcane, nounsunflower, nounswede, nounsweetcorn, nounsweet gum, nounsweet pea, nounsweet william, nounsycamore, nountamarind, nountangerine, nountaproot, nountea, nounteasel, nounteazel, nountendril, nounthistle, nounthistledown, nounthorn, nounthorny, adjectivethyme, nountimber, nountoadstool, nountop, nountrailing, adjectivetranspiration, nountranspire, verbtransplant, verbtree, nountreetop, nountrefoil, nountruffle, nountrunk, nountuber, nountulip, nountumbleweed, nounturnip, nountwig, noununderbrush, nounundergrowth, noununripe, adjectivevanilla, nounvariegated, adjectivevegetable, nounvegetation, nounvein, nounvetch, nounvine, nounviolet, nounvirginia creeper, nounwallflower, nounwalnut, nounwater chestnut, nounwatercress, nounwater lily, nounweed, nounwhorl, nounwild rice, nounwillow, nounwilt, verbwisteria, nounwither, verbwithered, adjectivewoody, adjectivewormwood, nounyam, nounyew, nounyucca, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► withering contempt
1[intransitive, transitive] if plants wither, or if something withers them, they become drier and smaller and start to die2[intransitive] to gradually become weaker or less successful and then end: (=that makes you feel very inferior)· She treated some of her staff with withering contempt.
► a plant withers (=becomes drier and starts to die)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► away· For modern Realists the state was not about to wither away and deprive their theory of its foundations.· The ideology of inclusion is withering away, to be replaced by a revival of survival-of-the-fittest capitalism.· Programmes would wither away if they did not command sufficient local support.· Even Marx intended that the state should wither away.· Many other groups of specialists have also withered away in the face of data processing.· Even with the rise of the Internet, few expert observers expect newspapers to wither away.· Would the hydra eventually wither away spontaneously?· The parties' grassroots connections, once the key to their political strength, have withered away.
NOUN► vine· The fine talk in the sessions about love and understanding, give and take, began to wither on the vine.· The department itself would wither on the vine.· It is unforgivable to leave it to wither on the vine.
His career had withered. The organization just withered away.3wither on the vine if something withers on the vine, it gradually ends because it is not given enough support: The government has allowed the program to wither on the vine by reducing its funding.