What does subside mean?
Subside means to become less intense or to settle gradually toward a lower level. The word is commonly applied to storms, floods, fires, conflict, pain, fear, and public anxiety, as in “the argument subsided” or “the swelling gradually subsided.” It can also describe physical movement, especially when land settles or a body of water drops. Subsiding therefore suggests a process of diminishing rather than an abrupt disappearance: a storm may continue briefly after its force has begun to abate. The term is common in formal writing but also natural in everyday speech. It is especially useful when an event is losing intensity gradually, whether the subject is human emotion, social tension, weather, or the physical movement of ground.
verbTo become less intense, severe, or active. It can also refer to land or water settling or sinking to a lower level.
- To become less intense, severe, or active.
- To settle or sink to a lower level.
- To move or come down gradually.
"The storm began to subside shortly after midnight."
"After several hours of heavy rain, the wind began to subside."
"The builders warned that part of the road might subside during the thaw."
A storm can subside without vanishing: its force may diminish as quickly as a long wave loses its height.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does subside come from?
Subside comes from Latin subsīdere, a compound formed from sub- meaning “under” and sedere meaning “to sit.” The literal sense developed from settling down or sinking beneath a surface, while the modern sense of becoming less intense emerged from the idea of passions, disputes, or disturbances settling down. English borrowed the word in the 17th century. Related English words including resident, sediment, sedentary, and preside ultimately connect with Latin roots associated with sitting.
Related word forms
How subside is actually used
The word is formal but widely understood. It is especially common for weather, conflict, pain, noise, anxiety, and other conditions that grow less intense. In civil engineering and geology, it can describe land that sinks or settles.