at a low ebb

prepositional phrase

At a low point; in a poor state; in a state of decline or depression.

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. idiomaticAt a low point; in a poor state; in a state of decline or depression.

    Polls show the prime minister’s popularity is at a low ebb.

    2022 August 24, Tassanee Vejpongsa, Grant Peck, “Thai court suspends PM Prayuth pending ruling on term limit”, in The Washington Post, retrieved 24 Aug 2022

Origin

The figurative sense is an extension from the literal sense of low tide.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 衰敗 /衰败, 式微
  • 衰敗 /衰败 (shuāibài)Translations
  • 式微 (shìwēi)Translations
Dutch op een laag pitje
  • op een laag pitjeTranslations
Polish w kiepskim stanie, w kiepskiej kondycji
  • w kiepskim stanieTranslations
  • w kiepskiej kondycjiTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

at a low ebb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20a%20low%20ebb

MLA

“at a low ebb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20a%20low%20ebb. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “at a low ebb,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20a%20low%20ebb.

Source: at a low ebb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.