abate
uh-BAYTverbMeaning to become less strong or intense
Memory hook A-BAIT: the storm calms, so out comes the BAIT. The wind drops, the rain slows, and the sun peeks out. The storm abates, so Omar grabs his bait and heads back to fishing.
We waited inside the barn until the storm abated.
In context The noise from the street party finally abated after midnight, and the tired family could at last fall asleep.
Similar subside, lessen, ease, die down
Opposite intensify, increase, worsen
From Old French abatre, “to beat down,” from batre, “to beat.”