What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fade
Example
The paint on the walls has started to fade due to exposure to sunlight. [fade: verb]
Example
The singer's popularity began to fade after their last album. [fade: verb]
vanish
Example
The magician made the rabbit vanish from the hat. [vanish: verb]
Example
The hiker vanished without a trace in the dense forest. [vanished: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fade is more commonly used than vanish in everyday language. Fade is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while vanish is less common and refers to a sudden and complete disappearance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fade and vanish?
Both fade and vanish are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
