Waste away
verb phrasal
To become gradually thinner or weaker because of an illness or lack of food.
After not eating for days, the stranded hiker was slowly wasting away.
Often appears as...
- waste away from illness
- waste away due to lack of food
verb phrasal
To spend time in an unproductive or pointless manner.
I wasted away the entire weekend watching television.
Often appears as...
- waste away the day
- waste away hours
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
verb phrasal
To become gradually thinner or weaker because of an illness or lack of food.
After not eating for days, the stranded hiker was slowly wasting away.
Often appears as...
- waste away from illness
- waste away due to lack of food
verb phrasal
To spend time in an unproductive or pointless manner.
I wasted away the entire weekend watching television.
Often appears as...
- waste away the day
- waste away hours
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Health Context
Use it to describe serious health decline, often due to illness or starvation.
The patient began to waste away after months of battling the disease.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Conveys a sense of sadness or tragedy, often stirring empathy.
Visitors were heartbroken to see the abandoned pets wasting away.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Appearance
Implies noticeable physical changes, like extreme thinness or frailty.
Without proper care, the once vibrant artist wasted away.
Pro Tip 1/3Health Context
Use it to describe serious health decline, often due to illness or starvation.
The patient began to waste away after months of battling the disease.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Conveys a sense of sadness or tragedy, often stirring empathy.
Visitors were heartbroken to see the abandoned pets wasting away.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Appearance
Implies noticeable physical changes, like extreme thinness or frailty.
Without proper care, the once vibrant artist wasted away.
Pro Tip 1/3Health Context
Use it to describe serious health decline, often due to illness or starvation.
The patient began to waste away after months of battling the disease.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Conveys a sense of sadness or tragedy, often stirring empathy.
Visitors were heartbroken to see the abandoned pets wasting away.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Appearance
Implies noticeable physical changes, like extreme thinness or frailty.
Without proper care, the once vibrant artist wasted away.
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