fade

[feyd]

verb (used without object)

faded, fading 

1. to lose brightness or vividness of color.

2. to become dim, as light, or lose brightness of illumination.

3. to lose freshness, vigor, strength, or health.

   The tulips have faded.

4. to disappear or die gradually (often followed by away orout ).

   His anger faded away.

5. Movies, Television.

   1. to appear gradually, especially by becoming lighter (usually followed byin ).

   2. to disappear gradually, especially by becoming darker (usually followed byout ).

6. Broadcasting, Recording.

   1. to increase gradually in volume of sound, as in recording or broadcasting music, dialogue, etc. (usually followed byin ).

   2. to decrease gradually in volume of sound (usually followed byout ).

7. Football.,  (of an offensive back, especially a quarterback) to move back toward one's own goal line, usually with the intent to pass, after receiving the snapback from center or a hand-off or lateral pass behind the line of scrimmage (usually followed byback ).

   The quarterback was tackled while fading back for a pass.

8. (of an automotive brake) to undergo brake fade.

verb (used with object)

faded, fading 

1. to cause to fade.

   Sunshine faded the drapes.

2. Movies, Television.

   1. to cause (a scene) to appear gradually (usually followed byin ).

   2. to cause (a scene) to disappear gradually (usually followed byout ).

3. Broadcasting, Recording.,  to cause (the volume of sound) to increase or decrease gradually (usually followed by in orout ).

4. (in dice throwing) to make a wager against (the caster).

noun

1. an act or instance of fading.

2. Movies, Television Informal.,  a fade-out.

3. a style of short haircut in which the hair on the top of the head is all one length, while the hair on the sides and back of the head is closely cut or shaved to a gradually shorter length from top to bottom, giving the appearance of the hair shading from darker to lighter.

4. Automotive.,  brake fade.

fade

/ feɪd /

verb

1. to lose or cause to lose brightness, colour, or clarity

2. (intr) to lose freshness, vigour, or youth; wither

3. (intr; usually foll by away or out) to vanish slowly; die out

4. 1. to decrease the brightness or volume of (a television or radio programme or film sequence) or (of a television programme, etc) to decrease in this way

   2. to decrease the volume of (a sound) in a recording system or (of a sound) to be so reduced in volume

5. (intr) (of the brakes of a vehicle) to lose power

6. to cause (a golf ball) to move with a controlled left-to-right trajectory or (of a golf ball) to veer gradually from left to right

noun

1. the act or an instance of fading

Other Word Forms

• fadable adjective
• prefade verb (used with object)
• unfadable adjective
• unfading adjective
• fader noun
• fadedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fade¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; 1915–20 fade for def. 5; Middle English faden, derivative of fade “pale, dull,” from Anglo-French, Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin fatidus, for Latin fatuus fatuous

Word History and Origins

Origin of fade¹

C14: from fade (adj) dull, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin fatidus (unattested), probably blend of Latin vapidus _vapid + Latin fatuus _fatuous

Synonym Study

See disappear.

Example Sentences

With the Chiefs' challenge fading, Josh Allen makes his Super Bowl breakthrough and the Bills finally claim their first NFL title.

From BBC

“It’s a faded version of a past that never really existed.”

From Los Angeles Times

While Noah toils away in the desert, artist Maya seeks to recolor her own faded view of the world.

From Los Angeles Times

The promise Alonso showed in practice on Friday, when he split the McLarens, faded, as it was always likely to.

From BBC

With hopes fading, her team began preparing for the long trek home - arranging specialist baggage handlers for their equipment.

From BBC

Related Words

• abate 
• deteriorate 
• dim 
• diminish 
• disappear 
• dissolve 
• ebb 
• evaporate 
• fail 
• fall 
• lessen 
• melt 
• peter out 
• sink 
• vanish 
• wane 
• weaken 
• wilt 
• wither