dwindle

dwindle — verb

1. when something dwindles, it becomes less and less over time, so that only a smal

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

when something dwindles, it becomes less and less over time, so that only a small part remains at the end

例句

The crowd outside the stadium dwindled as the rain grew heavier.

intransitive: subject (crowd) + dwindled

Yumi's savings dwindled quickly after she lost her job at the factory.

collocation: savings dwindle

同義詞
  • decrease

    general and neutral; dwindle adds the idea of gradualness and approaching emptiness

  • shrink

    often about physical size; dwindle can also apply to abstract things like hopes or support

  • diminish

    more formal; dwindle sounds more natural in everyday speech

  • wane

    usually about strength, power, or popularity; dwindle is broader

反義詞
  • increase

    general opposite

  • grow

    suggests becoming larger, the reverse of dwindling

  • expand

    emphasises spreading out in size or scope

文法句型

dwindle (away/down) — no object

用法筆記

Frequently used with an adverbial showing speed (e.g. "dwindled quickly", "dwindled steadily") or a final point ("dwindle to nothing", "dwindle to a handful"). Only the intransitive sense is standard — the verb cannot take a direct object.

常見錯誤

❌The drought dwindled the water supply.
✅The water supply dwindled during the drought.
💡dwindle is intransitive; you cannot use it with a direct object.
❌The number of students has been dwindled.
✅The number of students has dwindled.
💡dwindle is never used in the passive voice.