Meaning & use
the ebb
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Meanings
nounsingular
the regular movement of the sea away from the land, or the period when the water is at its lowest level.
Grammar: Used with 'the': the ebb. It is not usually countable, so you do not say 'an ebb' for the tide.
Patterns
- the ebb of the tide
- at ebb
We walked out across the wet sand at the ebb.
The ebb carries small fish back out to sea.
The boat was left resting on the mud during the ebb.
nounsingularfigurative
a gradual decrease in strength, amount, or activity.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'the ebb and flow' to describe something that repeatedly rises and falls.
Patterns
- the ebb and flow of something
- the ebb of something
The ebb and flow of public opinion makes planning difficult.
There was an ebb in his enthusiasm after the first week.
Common combinations
- the ebb and flow
- The ebb and flow of the crowd made it hard to stay together.
- at ebb
- The tide was at ebb, so we could reach the rocks.
- the ebb of the tide
- Fishermen know the ebb of the tide well.
- on the ebb
- Her influence was on the ebb by then.
Synonyms and how they differ
- low tide
- More everyday and factual; 'the ebb' is more literary and can also mean a decline.
- reflux
- Technical and rare; used in science, not in general conversation.
Opposites
Word family
- ebb verb
- To move away from the land, as the sea does.
Commonly confused: the ebb or eb?
the ebb vs eb
'Eb' is a musical note; 'ebb' is the movement of the sea.
Practice
The tide was at ____, so the boats sat on the sand.
Choose one answer.
'At ebb' means the sea has moved away and the water is low. 'Flood' is the opposite, when the water is rising, so it does not fit. 'Wave' and 'current' are movements of water, not the state of the tide.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the ebb”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.