Which definition best captures wane?

• A. To lose strength or intensity
• B. To ebb or dwindle
• C. To decline in power
• D. To approach the end

Answer: (C)

Wane means a gradual decrease in strength, intensity, or influence. The best fit captures this sense by describing a decline in power, since waning is commonly used to talk about something’s diminishing capability or authority over time. For example, someone’s political clout can begin to wane as support drops, which shows a steady loss of power rather than an abrupt end.

The idea to lose strength or intensity is close and true, but the phrasing “decline in power” is the most precise single notion that aligns with how waning is used in everyday and academic contexts. To ebb or dwindle works as a general sense of decreasing, but waning is often tied specifically to power, influence, or strength. Approaching the end suggests an eventual completion, which isn’t the core implication of waning.