Pronunciation: /ˈθɪnɪŋ/

Definitions of thinning

noun the process of making something thinner or less dense

Example Sentences

A1 I noticed the thinning of my hair as I aged.

A2 The thinning of the crowd indicated that the event was coming to an end.

B1 The thinning of the forest was a result of deforestation.

B2 The thinning of the paint caused streaks in the final coat.

C1 The thinning of the ozone layer is a major environmental concern.

C2 The thinning of the plot in the novel made it difficult to follow.

adjective becoming thinner or less dense

Example Sentences

A1 The thinning hair on the old man's head made him look much older.

A2 She noticed the thinning crowd at the concert as it started to rain.

B1 The thinning ice on the lake made it dangerous to walk on.

B2 The thinning patience of the teacher was evident as the students continued to misbehave.

C1 The thinning ozone layer is a serious environmental concern.

C2 The thinning plot of the novel left readers feeling unsatisfied with the ending.

Examples of thinning in a Sentence

formal The process of thinning the forest is necessary to prevent wildfires.

informal I'm thinking of thinning out my wardrobe because I have too many clothes.

slang I need to start thinning out my friend group, too many toxic people around.

figurative Her patience was thinning as she waited for her appointment to start.

Grammatical Forms of thinning

past tense

thinned

plural

thinnings

comparative

thinner

superlative

thinnest

present tense

thin

future tense

will thin

perfect tense

have thinned

continuous tense

is thinning

singular

thinning

positive degree

thin

infinitive

to thin

gerund

thinning

participle

thinning

Origin and Evolution of thinning

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'thinning' originated from the Old English word 'thynnan' which means to make or become thin.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'thinning' has evolved to not only refer to making something thin but also to the process of reducing the number or density of something, such as thinning out a crowd or thinning hair.