1.
to recede; to become distant; to fade away
For something to move away or become more distant, either physically (sounds, figures) or figuratively (attention, visits). Often describes a gradual process of growing apart or becoming less frequent.
足音が遠のいていった。
The footsteps faded into the distance.
最近、友人の足が遠のいている。
Lately, my friend's visits have become less frequent.
雷の音がだんだん遠のいて、空が明るくなってきた。
The sound of thunder gradually receded, and the sky began to brighten.
Godan verb derived from 遠い (distant). Conjugates as 遠のく・遠のいて・遠のいた.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 足が遠のく (visits become less frequent)
- 音が遠のく (a sound fades away)
- 意識が遠のく (consciousness fades — feeling faint)
- 客が遠のく (customers stop coming)
The idiom 足が遠のく is particularly common, meaning someone visits or goes to a place less and less often. 意識が遠のく describes the sensation of losing consciousness.