ebb
noun /eb/
/eb/
the ebb
[usually singular]Idioms - the period of time when the sea flows away from the land
- the ebb tide
Extra Examples- It was difficult sailing upstream against a strong ebb.
- They left port on the ebb tide.
- They went out to sea with the ebb.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryebb + noun- tide
- against an/the ebb
- on an/the ebb
- with an/the ebb
- …
- the ebb and flow of something
Word OriginOld English ebba (noun), ebbian (verb), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch ebbe (noun), ebben (verb), and ultimately to of which had the primary sense ‘away from’.
Idioms
at a low ebb
- in a poor state; worse than usual
- Morale among teachers is at a low ebb.
the ebb and flow (of something/somebody)
- the repeated, often regular, movement from one state to another; the repeated change in level, numbers or amount
- the ebb and flow of the seasons
- She sat in silence enjoying the ebb and flow of conversation.
- He had known her long enough to recognize the ebb and flow of her moods.
- the natural ebb and flow of water
- We see a constant ebb and flow of jobs.