subside
gb/sʌbsˈaɪd/ us/sʌbsˈaɪd/
B2
English
csillapodik, alábbhagy, megsüllyed, apad, leapad, elcsendesedik, elhal
VERB
B2
1
csillapodik
B2
alábbhagy
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] subsides
After an hour, the pain began to subside.
Egy óra múlva a fájdalom csillapodni kezdett.
As the storm subsided, the sky started to clear.
Ahogy a vihar alábbhagyott, az ég kezdett kitisztulni.
Public anger subsided once the full story came out.
Learner examples
My headache subsided after I rested.
A fejfájásom csillapodott, miután pihentem.
The wind subsided at night.
Éjszaka alábbhagyott a szél.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it as a transitive verb (*subside the pain*). Say the pain subsides or the pain eases.
Meaning
become less strong or severe
Collocations
pain subsides
|swelling subsides
|anger subsides
|tension subsides
|fears subside
|storm subsides
|wind subsides
|symptoms subside
|inflammation subsides
|the noise subsides
Synonyms
ease (More general and very common for pain or difficulty.)
|
abate (Slightly more formal; often used for storms, violence, or intensity.)
|
diminish (Often implies a gradual reduction in size, amount, or strength.)
Antonyms
intensify (Become stronger or more extreme.)
|
worsen (Become more serious or unpleasant.)
Themes
daily_life
|health
|weather
|emotions
Definition
If something subsides, it becomes weaker or less strong.
To become less intense, severe, or active over time.
VERB
C1
2
megsüllyed
B2
Usage pattern:
[ground/land/building] subsides
Parts of the city have subsided because the groundwater was pumped out.
A város egyes részei megsüllyedtek, mert kiszivattyúzták a talajvizet.
The road began to crack as the soil beneath it subsided.
Az út repedezni kezdett, ahogy az alatta lévő talaj megsüllyedt.
Engineers inspected the house after the foundation subsided.
Learner examples
The ground subsided after the earthquake.
A föld megsüllyedt a földrengés után.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with 'subside' meaning 'stop' in general; this sense is specifically about sinking or settling.
Meaning
sink or settle to a lower level
Collocations
the ground subsides
|land subsides
|soil subsides
|the floor subsides
|a building subsides
|the foundation subsides
|the road subsides
|the roof subsides
|the earth subsides
|subsiding land
Synonyms
sink (More common and broader; can be sudden or gradual.)
|
settle (Often suggests a slow movement into a stable position.)
Antonyms
rise (Move upward instead of downward.)
|
heave (Lift or swell upward, especially in the ground.)
Themes
buildings
|environment
|science
Definition
If land or a building subsides, it slowly sinks down.
To sink or settle downward, especially because the ground or a structure is giving way.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[water/flood/river] subsides
The floodwaters finally subsided after three days of rain.
Három napos eső után végre apadni kezdett az ár.
Residents returned home once the river had subsided.
A lakók akkor tértek haza, amikor a folyó már leapadt.
Emergency crews stayed on site until the water level subsided.
Learner examples
The water subsided overnight.
A víz egy éjszaka alatt leapadt.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'subside' where 'drain' or 'dry up' is meant; 'subside' focuses on the level going down.
Meaning
water level go down
Collocations
floodwaters subside
|the flood subsides
|the river subsides
|waters subside
|the tide subsides
|water levels subside
|the surge subsides
|subsiding waters
Synonyms
recede (Very common for water moving back or away.)
|
go down (Informal and general; less precise.)
Antonyms
rise (Increase in level.)
|
flood (Cover an area with water; often happens as levels rise.)
Themes
weather
|environment
|news
Definition
If water subsides, it goes down.
To go down in level, especially when floodwater or a river gradually retreats.
VERB
C1
4
elhal
B2
Usage pattern:
[noise/crowd/laughter] subsides
The room slowly subsided as the speaker began.
Ahogy az előadó beszélni kezdett, a terem lassan elcsendesedett.
After a few minutes, the applause subsided.
Néhány perc múlva a taps elhalt.
The chatter subsided when the teacher raised her hand.
Learner examples
The class subsided after the bell.
A csengő után elcsendesedett az osztály.
Common mistake:
Don’t use with an object (*subside the class*). Say the class subsided or the class quieted down.
Meaning
become quieter and calmer
Collocations
the crowd subsides
|laughter subsides
|the noise subsides
|the room subsides
|the chatter subsides
|the excitement subsides
|applause subsides
|the commotion subsides
Synonyms
quiet down (More conversational; often used as an instruction.)
|
die down (Common for noise, anger, or activity gradually becoming less.)
Antonyms
erupt (Suddenly become loud or active.)
|
build (Increase gradually (e.g., tension builds).)
Themes
daily_life
|social
|emotions
Definition
If a noise or a crowd subsides, it becomes quiet and calm again.
To become quieter, calmer, or less animated, especially after excitement or disturbance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
subside
IPA
GB/sʌbsˈaɪd/
US/sʌbsˈaɪd/
Syllables & stress
sub - side (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (side)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: subside
- 3rd Person Singular: subsides
- Present Participle: subsiding
- Past: subsided
Expressions
once the dust has subsided
1/wˈʌns ðə dˈʌst hˈæz sʌbsˈaɪdɪd/
idiom
after things calm down
After the trouble or confusion ends.
Examples
- Once the dust has subsided, we’ll review what went wrong.
- She promised to call once the dust had subsided after the launch.
- Once the dust has subsided, the company expects to announce a new plan.
subside into silence
1/sʌbsˈaɪd ˈɪntu sˈaɪləns/
fixed phrase
gradually become silent
To slowly become completely quiet.
Examples
- The room subsided into silence as the verdict was read.
- Their argument subsided into silence after a long pause.
- The crowd subsided into silence when the lights went out.
Learner examples
- The class subsided into silence.