Wilt: meaning, definitions and examples

Used mostly to describe plants losing their rigidity and becoming limp due to lack of water or extreme heat.

• The flowers began to wilt in the midday sun.
• Without water, the leaves will start to wilt.

Indicates a gradual loss of color, brightness, or strength. Can be used in various contexts, such as describing colors disappearing, sounds becoming quieter, or feelings diminishing.

• The colors of the old photograph have begun to fade.
• His memory of the event started to fade over time.

Refers to something bending or hanging downward, often because of tiredness or weakness. Can be used for both plants and in a metaphorical sense for people or objects losing vitality.

• The new plant started to droop after a few days.
• His shoulders began to droop from exhaustion.

Typically used for plants or parts of plants losing their moisture and vitality, becoming dry and shriveled. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone or something losing strength or vitality.

• The crops withered in the intense heat.
• Her enthusiasm withered when she realized the difficulties involved.

Typically used when referring to plants losing their firmness or freshness due to lack of water or excessive heat. It can also describe a person losing energy or enthusiasm.

• The flowers began to wilt under the hot sun.
• After hours of hiking, she started to wilt from exhaustion.

Commonly used to describe a reduction in size, amount, importance, or intensity of something. Often has a neutral or slightly negative connotation.

• His influence in the company has started to diminish.
• Over time, the pain will diminish.

Refers to losing strength or power. This can apply to physical strength, structural integrity, or metaphorical strength such as an argument or influence.

• After the illness, it took months for him to recover and not feel so weakened.
• Constant criticism can weaken a person's confidence.

Used to describe the gradual loss of color, brightness, or clarity. It can apply to physical objects, sounds, or even memories and feelings.

• The colors of the old photograph have started to fade.
• As the years went by, her memories of that day began to fade.

This word is typically used to describe plants losing their rigidity due to lack of water or other stress factors. It can also describe a person becoming weak or losing energy.

• The flowers began to wilt under the hot sun
• After a long day at work, he felt completely wilted

Similar to 'wilt', this word is usually used for plants and occasionally for people or other things losing strength or stiffness, but it emphasizes the process rather than the state.

• The lack of rain was causing the crops to start wilting
• After running the marathon, he felt like he was wilting

Use this word to describe something that is hanging down limply, often due to tiredness, weakness, or lack of support. It can apply to both plants and people.

• The leaves were drooping because they hadn't been watered in days
• She walked home with her shoulders drooping from exhaustion

This word is often used to indicate a gradual loss of color, brightness, or strength, both in literal and metaphorical senses. It's appropriate for describing light, colors, memories, or signals.

• The colors of the old photograph were fading
• His enthusiasm for the project started fading over time