1
: the reflux of the tide toward the sea
2
: a point or condition of decline
our spirits were at a low ebb
ebbed; ebbing; ebbs
1
: to recede from the flood
2
: to fall from a higher to a lower level or from a better to a worse state
his popularity ebbed
Examples of ebb in a Sentence
Noun
Morale seems to have reached its lowest ebb.
a surprising ebb in the quality of workmanship in goods coming from that country
Verb
waiting for the tide to ebb
the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Schools are hesitant to grow too fast for fear they’ll be forced to retrench once today’s crisis ebbs.
—Maria Flynn, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Four House Democrats made a separate trip to raise concerns over Abrego Garcia’s due process rights, but those visits have since ebbed as Republicans accuse the Democrats of being out of touch with voters on immigration.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ebb
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Noun
At the time of writing, United are 16th, their lowest ebb since they were last relegated in 1974.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Schools are hesitant to grow too fast for fear they’ll be forced to retrench once today’s crisis ebbs.
—Maria Flynn, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
The pattern that defined this period—an uptick in spying during war, and then its ebbing in peacetime—poses a problem for Rogg and Lowenthal, whose accounts of the years between the Revolution and World War II are overstuffed with desultory detail.
—James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Four House Democrats made a separate trip to raise concerns over Abrego Garcia’s due process rights, but those visits have since ebbed as Republicans accuse the Democrats of being out of touch with voters on immigration.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ebb
Cite this Entry
“Ebb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ebb. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ebb
1 of 2 noun1
: the flow away from the shore of seawater brought in by the tide
2
: a passing from a high to a low point
our spirits were at a low ebb
also
: the time of such a passing
ebb
2 of 2 verb1
: to recede from the flood
2
: to fall from a higher level or better state : weaken
her strength ebbed
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