v. 1 recede, flow back, subside, go out, go down; fall back or away, retreat, retrocede, retire The tide ebbed, leaving the boat stranded 2 decline, flag, decay, wane, diminish, decrease, drop, slacken, fade (away), drain (away), dwindle, peter out, waste (away), deteriorate His enthusiasm for exercise is beginning to ebb
n. 3 low tide, low water, ebb tide, low point The rocks appear when the sea is at its ebb 4 decline, decay, decrease, diminution, wane, drop, slackening (off), dwindling, lessening, deterioration, degeneration She was no longer willing to contend with the ebb and flow of his temper