withered
withered — adjective
- witheredpositive
- more witheredcomparative
- most witheredsuperlative
1. no longer alive and completely dry, used especially about plants, flowers, and l
no longer alive and completely dry, used especially about plants, flowers, and leaves that have lost all their moisture
Shirin picked up the withered rose from the windowsill and threw it away.
collocation: withered rose / withered flower
The garden was full of withered tomato plants after the long drought.
Astrid trimmed the withered branches from the apple tree.
A single withered petal dropped onto the kitchen table.
Dylan pressed a withered daisy between the pages of his notebook.
- wilted
drooping from lack of water but still alive and revivable
- shrivelled
emphasises the wrinkled, shrunken look more than the loss of life
- dried-up
informal; also used for rivers, wells, and paint
- desiccated
formal or technical; used in science and food processing
- blooming
fully open and healthy
- flourishing
growing strongly and in good condition
- lush
rich, thick, and full of life
常見錯誤
2. (of an arm, leg, or hand) shrunken and frail, having never reached its full size
(of an arm, leg, or hand) shrunken and frail, having never reached its full size because illness or injury affected its growth
Theo was born with a withered right arm but never let it slow him down.
typically modifies 'arm' or 'leg'
The old photograph showed a child with a withered leg leaning on a wooden crutch.
Nadia underwent surgery to improve movement in her withered hand.
The doctor explained that the withered limb was caused by a nerve condition.
- atrophied
medical term for muscle wasting from disuse or disease
- shrunken
more general; can apply to anything that has become smaller
- underdeveloped
broader term; can refer to any body part or organ that never fully formed
用法筆記
Typically modifies 'arm', 'leg', 'hand', or 'limb'. More common in medical or older literary texts.
3. thin, weak, and deeply lined, especially from advanced age or long illness — des
thin, weak, and deeply lined, especially from advanced age or long illness — describing a person's body, face, or skin
Kemi held her withered grandmother's hand as they crossed the street.
typically describes elderly or very ill people
Vinícius barely recognized his uncle — the illness had left him withered and frail.
A withered face stared back at Yael from the hospital mirror.
Ritu sat beside the withered old man, listening to his stories.
Years of hard labour had left the farmer's hands withered and rough.
- wizened
specifically describes the wrinkled, shrunken look of very old people
- shrivelled
focuses on the skin's wrinkled, dried-out appearance
- gaunt
thin and bony, often from hunger or suffering rather than age
- frail
emphasises physical weakness more than the wrinkled look
用法筆記
Describes a person's appearance as permanently altered by age or sickness — not temporary tiredness. Distinguish from sense 1 (DRY AND DECAYING), which applies to dead vegetation.
常見錯誤
withered — verb
- witheredpresent simple I / you / we / they
- withereds3rd person singular
- withereding-ing form
- witherededpast simple
1. (of a plant or part of a plant) to become dry, shrink, and die from lack of wate
(of a plant or part of a plant) to become dry, shrink, and die from lack of water or care
The basil on the balcony withered after three days without water.
intransitive: plant + wither
Without enough rain, the wheat in the north field began to wither.
Daichi forgot to water the fern, and it withered within a week.
The wildflowers withered under the harsh August sun.
文法句型
wither (without object)
用法筆記
Intransitive only. Subject is a plant or plant part. For the transitive counterpart — when something causes the plant to die — see sense 3 (CAUSE TO DRY).
常見錯誤
2. (of a feeling, quality, or resource) to gradually lose strength, energy, or inte
(of a feeling, quality, or resource) to gradually lose strength, energy, or intensity until little or nothing remains
Zola's confidence withered after the panel dismissed her proposal.
figurative: confidence/hopes + wither
The restaurant owner watched her savings wither as the bills piled up.
Kemi checked the donation page daily and saw the numbers wither to almost nothing.
The team's lead withered in the final ten minutes of the match.
- surge
increase suddenly and powerfully
文法句型
wither (without object) — figurative
用法筆記
Figurative extension of sense 1. Subject is typically an abstract quality — hopes, confidence, enthusiasm, support — or something countable that dwindles, such as savings or a lead.
常見錯誤
3. to make a plant or crop dry up, shrink, and die
to make a plant or crop dry up, shrink, and die
The sudden frost withered every tomato seedling in the garden.
transitive: [cause] + wither + [plant]
A fungal disease withered the vineyard's oldest grapevines.
The scorching wind withered the crops before harvest could begin.
Salt spray from the storm withered all the coastal shrubs.
- nourish
provide what is needed for growth
- revive
bring back to life or health
- revitalise
give new life or energy to
文法句型
[cause] + wither + [plant/crop]
用法筆記
Transitive counterpart of sense 1. Subject is a destructive force — drought, frost, disease, heat, salt — and the object is a plant or crop.
4. to make someone suddenly unable to speak or act, especially by giving them a col
to make someone suddenly unable to speak or act, especially by giving them a cold stare or a cutting remark
Professor Chen withered the interrupting student with a single cold stare.
pattern: wither + [person] + with a look/stare/glance
Saira's sharp reply withered the rude customer on the spot.
The ambassador withered the journalist's attack with a calm, cutting response.
The principal withered the heckler with a raised eyebrow and a long silence.
- embolden
give someone the courage to speak or act
文法句型
wither + [person] + with a [look/stare/remark]
用法筆記
Rare and literary. Most often in the pattern 'wither [someone] with a [look/stare/glance]'. The effect is immediate and psychological — the person is stunned into silence.