ebb
1 of 2noun
ˈeb 
1
: the reflux of the tide toward the sea
2
: a point or condition of decline
our spirits were at a low ebb
ebb
2 of 2verb
ebbed; ebbing; ebbs
intransitive verb
1
: to recede from the flood
2
: to fall from a higher to a lower level or from a better to a worse state
his popularity ebbed
Synonyms
Noun
- decadence
- declension
- declination
- decline
- degeneracy
- degeneration
- degradation
- dégringolade
- descent
- deterioration
- devolution
- downfall
- downgrade
- eclipse
- fall
Verb
- atrophy
- crumble
- decay
- decline
- degenerate
- descend
- deteriorate
- devolve
- regress
- retrograde
- rot
- sink
- worsen
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Morale seems to have reached its lowest ebb. a surprising ebb in the quality of workmanship in goods coming from that country Verb waiting for the tide to ebb the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Bain, Good Housekeeping, 29 July 2022 The best companies and leaders don’t see the ebb of the last disruption as a respite. Jonathan Brill, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021 Even among Republicans, who generally have favored the court’s conservative decisions, its standing was at a low ebb, with 39% expressing confidence in the court, down from 53% in 2010. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 Under President Echeverría, relations between government and business reached their lowest ebb in decades. New York Times, 9 July 2022 Like always, his songs’ moods follow Fairbanks’ seasonal ebb and flow of serotonin-spiking sunlight and edge-of-depression darkness. Josh Niva For The Daily News, Anchorage Daily News, 14 July 2022 The enigmatic ebb and flow of restaurant openings and closings tied to the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic’s staffing issues continues. Marc Bona, cleveland, 11 July 2022 Our emotions often get swept up in the recurring ebb and flow. Jim Osman, Forbes, 24 June 2022 While erosion is natural for barrier islands like the Outer Banks, Hallac said climate change may exacerbate the natural ebb and flow. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 13 May 2022 Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 May 2022 No, the market will continue to ebb and flow based on current events, which are out of our control. Jeff Rose, Forbes, 26 May 2022 So being appropriately proactive and responsive, responsive and proactive to how the environment is just going to ebb and flow in the coming weeks and months. Fortune Editors, Fortune, 25 May 2022 The lesson also is that a team can play poorly or go on a hot streak, attendance can ebb and come back, but food is a constant. Marc Bona, cleveland, 25 July 2022 China’s export boom is expected to ebb in April as the country’s stringent Covid-19 control measures disrupted factory output and the domestic supply chain. Wsj Staff, WSJ, 8 May 2022 Powell said the Fed expects the price surges to ebb as supply chain bottlenecks ease, household demand moderates as consumers deplete their stimulus checks and other government aid from last year, and the Fed raises interest rates. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2022 Fun prints like a checkerboard or tropical fruits ebb and flow with the trend cycle, but florals are a forever favorite. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 July 2022 While friendships on the Real Housewives series sometimes ebb and flow, Frankel and Zarin have not appeared to mend their relationship much since the feud. Kelly Wynne, PEOPLE.com, 21 June 2022 See More
Noun
And there also seems to be a hormonal connection to brain fog, connected to the ebb of estrogen that happens during the transition. Lisa Bain, Good Housekeeping, 29 July 2022 The best companies and leaders don’t see the ebb of the last disruption as a respite. Jonathan Brill, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021 Even among Republicans, who generally have favored the court’s conservative decisions, its standing was at a low ebb, with 39% expressing confidence in the court, down from 53% in 2010. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 Under President Echeverría, relations between government and business reached their lowest ebb in decades. New York Times, 9 July 2022 Like always, his songs’ moods follow Fairbanks’ seasonal ebb and flow of serotonin-spiking sunlight and edge-of-depression darkness. Josh Niva For The Daily News, Anchorage Daily News, 14 July 2022 The enigmatic ebb and flow of restaurant openings and closings tied to the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic’s staffing issues continues. Marc Bona, cleveland, 11 July 2022 Our emotions often get swept up in the recurring ebb and flow. Jim Osman, Forbes, 24 June 2022 While erosion is natural for barrier islands like the Outer Banks, Hallac said climate change may exacerbate the natural ebb and flow. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 13 May 2022 Verb
In a debate with Cathie Wood last September, Arnott charged that the Ark Invest chief was amassing hot players at bubble valuations, and profiting from runaway momentum that would eventually ebb, causing steep declines. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 May 2022 No, the market will continue to ebb and flow based on current events, which are out of our control. Jeff Rose, Forbes, 26 May 2022 So being appropriately proactive and responsive, responsive and proactive to how the environment is just going to ebb and flow in the coming weeks and months. Fortune Editors, Fortune, 25 May 2022 The lesson also is that a team can play poorly or go on a hot streak, attendance can ebb and come back, but food is a constant. Marc Bona, cleveland, 25 July 2022 China’s export boom is expected to ebb in April as the country’s stringent Covid-19 control measures disrupted factory output and the domestic supply chain. Wsj Staff, WSJ, 8 May 2022 Powell said the Fed expects the price surges to ebb as supply chain bottlenecks ease, household demand moderates as consumers deplete their stimulus checks and other government aid from last year, and the Fed raises interest rates. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2022 Fun prints like a checkerboard or tropical fruits ebb and flow with the trend cycle, but florals are a forever favorite. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 July 2022 While friendships on the Real Housewives series sometimes ebb and flow, Frankel and Zarin have not appeared to mend their relationship much since the feud. Kelly Wynne, PEOPLE.com, 21 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English ebbe, from Old English ebba; akin to Middle Dutch ebbe ebb, Old English of from — more at of
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing ebb
Kids Definition
ebb 1 of 2
noun
ˈeb
1
: the flowing out of the tide
2
: a point reached after things have gotten worse
In the ebb of their fortunes, this sum was their total capital … Jack London, The Call of the Wild
Jack London, The Call of the Wildebb
2 of 2verb
ebbed; ebbing
1
: to flow out or away
2
: to get worse His fortunes ebbed.
ebb 1 of 2
noun
as in decline
a change to a lower state or level a surprising ebb in the quality of workmanship in goods coming from that country Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- decline
- deterioration
- degradation
- declination
- descent
- decrease
- fall
- decadence
- downfall
- eclipse
- devolution
- declension
- decay
- degeneration
- destruction
- degeneracy
- reduction
- drop
- dissolution
- dégringolade
- disintegration
- dark age
- sunset
- loss
- dip
- downgrade
- slump
- breakup
- decomposition
- nadir
- lessening
- crumbling
- havoc
- sag
- rotting
- downturn
- spoiling
- debasement
- diminution
- lowering
- diminishment
- downslide
- depreciation
- shrinkage
- ruin
- ruination
- slip
- abasement
- decimation
- deflation
- falloff
- decrement
- desolation
- downtrend
- demolition
- abatement
- drop-off
- demolishment
- de-escalation
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rise
- growth
- evolution
- development
- ascent
- upswing
- advancement
- flowering
- increase
- renewal
- restoration
- revitalization
- blossoming
- flourishing
- gain
- enhancement
- increment
- addition
- boost
- raise
- accrual
- accretion
- supplement
- heightening
- addendum
- augmentation
ebb
2 of 2verb
1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed Synonyms & Similar Words
- deteriorate
- decline
- worsen
- crumble
- descend
- diminish
- decay
- sink
- devolve
- degenerate
- rot
- regress
- atrophy
- retrograde
- wane
- dwindle
- recede
- sag
- weaken
- fall
- disintegrate
- run to seed
- reduce
- go to pot
- sour
- abate
- slip
- degrade
- dilapidate
- go to seed
- putrefy
- decompose
- lower
- corrupt
- lessen
- downsize
- undermine
- lag
- wilt
- molder
- languish
- spoil
- droop
- de-escalate
- break down
- debilitate
- run down
- fail
- flag
- waste (away)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- improve
- better
- ameliorate
- intensify
- enhance
- heighten
- strengthen
- enrich
- meliorate
- upgrade
- progress
- proceed
- march
- advance
- develop
- fortify
2
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the howling winds ebbed as the hurricane moved into the interior Synonyms & Similar Words
- decrease
- subside
- diminish
- ease
- decline
- fall
- wane
- vanish
- dwindle
- recede
- shrink
- moderate
- fall away
- taper
- lower
- lessen
- taper off
- phase down
- pall
- abate
- evaporate
- weaken
- relent
- let up
- collapse
- remit
- ratchet (down)
- die (away or down or out)
- slacken
- drop (off)
- de-escalate
- drain (away)
- rachet (down)
- contract
- alleviate
- constrict
- relax
- compress
- condense
- sink
- give out
- slow (down)
- fade (away)
- tail (off)
- melt (away)
- deflate
- flag
- peter (out)
- fritter (away)
- cave (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rise
- increase
- swell
- grow
- intensify
- expand
- build
- soar
- escalate
- accumulate
- enlarge
- burgeon
- emerge
- mount
- wax
- appear
- snowball
- balloon
- mushroom
- pick up
- lengthen
- bourgeon
- distend
- elongate
- blow up
- show up
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of ebb are abate, subside, and wane. While all these words mean "to die down in force or intensity," ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.
the ebbing of daylight
While the synonyms abate and ebb are close in meaning, abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.
the storm abated
In some situations, the words subside and ebb are roughly equivalent. However, subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.
the protests subsided after a few days
The words wane and ebb can be used in similar contexts, but wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.
waning enthusiasm