wither

wither — verb

1. When a plant or flower withers, or hot weather or lack of water withers it, the

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

When a plant or flower withers, or hot weather or lack of water withers it, the plant becomes dry, shrinks, and dies.

Example

The roses in the garden withered after two weeks without rain.

intransitive: wither + after [period] without [resource]

The hot summer sun withered the young tomato plants before they could produce fruit.

transitive: sun/weather + withers + plant

Common collocations
  • wither away
  • wither and die
  • wither in the sun
  • wither from lack of water
  • wither on the vine
Synonyms
  • shrivel

    focuses on the physical shrinking and curling of leaves or petals; less final than wither

  • wilt

    means to droop from lack of water but the plant can still recover — less severe than wither

  • dry up

    informal phrasal verb; emphasizes the loss of moisture rather than death

Antonyms
  • bloom

    to produce flowers and look healthy — the opposite of a plant dying

  • flourish

    to grow well and strongly

Grammar Patterns

wither

wither + noun phrase

Usage Note

Can be used transitively (The sun withered the plants) or intransitively (The plants withered). The transitive use often names a cause such as extreme heat, drought, or a lack of water. Unlike wilt, withering implies permanent damage — the plant has dried up completely and cannot recover.

Common Mistakes

The flowers wilted and died after I forgot to water them.
The flowers withered and died after I forgot to water them.
wilting means drooping temporarily (plants can recover), while withering means drying up completely (the plant dies).

2. If an activity, feeling, opportunity, or connection withers, it slowly becomes w

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

If an activity, feeling, opportunity, or connection withers, it slowly becomes weaker and less important until it finally ends or disappears.

Example

Trade between the two countries withered after the new tariffs were introduced.

collocation: trade + withers + after [event]

The old traditions began to wither as younger people moved to the city.

Common collocations
  • wither away
  • wither and die
  • hopes wither
  • support withers
  • trade withers
Synonyms
  • fade

    suggests losing brightness or intensity; can be faster and less final than wither

  • decline

    more neutral and formal; focuses on gradual reduction in quality or quantity

  • dwindle

    emphasizes shrinking in size or number; often used for resources or populations

Antonyms
  • grow

    to increase in strength, size, or importance

  • thrive

    to be very successful and strong

Grammar Patterns

wither

wither away

Usage Note

Frequently used with the particle away (wither away) to emphasize the gradual loss of strength. Common in political, social, and economic contexts (withering support, withering trade, hopes wither). This sense is always intransitive — you cannot say 'The war withered the economy' in this sense.

Common Mistakes

The company's profits withered overnight.
The company's profits withered over several quarters.
withering is a gradual process, not an instant change.
The scandal withered his reputation.' (transitive)
His reputation withered after the scandal.
this sense is intransitive; use 'damaged' or 'destroyed' for the transitive meaning.

wither — noun

wither — idiom

Word family

  • withered
    adjectiveB1
  • withering
    adjectiveB2
  • witheringly
    adverbC1
  • withers
    nounC1
  • unwithered
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Fade, shrivel, wilt, and decay all describe a loss of vitality, but each picks out a different aspect. Fade focuses on colour or brightness fading away, often gradually (the curtains faded in the sun). Shrivel emphasizes physical contraction and wrinkling — a leaf shrivels as it loses moisture. Wilt means to droop or become limp from lack of water, but a wilted plant can usually recover if watered soon, whereas a withered plant is beyond saving. Decay implies rot and decomposition caused by bacteria or fungi (the fallen fruit decayed on the ground). Use wither when the primary cause is dryness and the result is permanent death — especially for plants exposed to heat or drought.

fade ↗shrivelwiltdecay ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • wither on the vine
  • wither and die
  • wither in the heat

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The verb wither comes from Old English wederian meaning 'to weather, to be exposed to the elements,' which is related to the word weather. Over time the meaning narrowed from general exposure to the weather to the specific effect of drying wind or sun on plants. The noun withers (always plural) comes from an Old English root wid- meaning 'against' or 'contrary,' referring to the part of a horse's back that resists or withstands pressure from the collar or yoke.