subside

Subside is a verb that means to sink or settle down gradually. It can refer to the process of something moving downward or becoming less intense over time. In geology, subsidence is the gradual sinking of land, often due to natural processes such as the compaction of soil or the withdrawal of groundwater. This can lead to the formation of sinkholes or the lowering of the land's surface. In a more general sense, subsidence can describe the gradual reduction of a physical or emotional state, such as a person's spirits or the intensity of a storm. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe the gradual decrease of something, like the level of a liquid in a container. The opposite of subsidence is uplift, which refers to the raising or lifting of something.