Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [eb]
- /ɛb/
- /eb/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [eb]
- /ɛb/
Definitions of ebb word
- noun ebb the flowing back of the tide as the water returns to the sea (opposed to flood, flow). 1
- noun ebb a flowing backward or away; decline or decay: the ebb of a once great nation. 1
- noun ebb a point of decline: His fortunes were at a low ebb. 1
- verb without object ebb to flow back or away, as the water of a tide (opposed to flow). 1
- verb without object ebb to decline or decay; fade away: His life is gradually ebbing. 1
- noun ebb The movement of the tide out to sea. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of ebb
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
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
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Ebb
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
ebb popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 89% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
ebb usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for ebb
verb ebb
- degenerate — If you say that someone or something degenerates, you mean that they become worse in some way, for example weaker, lower in quality, or more dangerous.
- slacken — If something slackens or if you slacken it, it becomes slower, less active, or less intense.
- wane — to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.: Daylight waned, and night came on. Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning.
- dwindle — to become smaller and smaller; shrink; waste away: His vast fortune has dwindled away.
- lessen — to become less.
noun ebb
- ebb tide — the reflux of the tide or the tide at ebb; ebb.
- abatement — Abatement means a reduction in the strength or power of something or the reduction of it.
- backflow — a reverse flow, the movement (of a liquid) in the opposite direction to its previous, natural or intended direction
- degeneration — the process of degenerating
- depreciation — the reduction in value of a fixed asset due to use, obsolescence, etc
Antonyms for ebb
verb ebb
- improve — to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition: He took vitamins to improve his health.
- grow — to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.
- increase — to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes.
- prolong — to lengthen out in time; extend the duration of; cause to continue longer: to prolong one's stay abroad.
- ascend — If you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it.
noun ebb
- development — Development is the gradual growth or formation of something.
- growth — the act or process, or a manner of growing; development; gradual increase.
- improvement — an act of improving or the state of being improved.
- incline — to deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.
Top questions with ebb
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