taper off
Idioms-
Become thinner or narrower at one end, as in The road began to taper off until it was just a narrow path . [c. 1600]
-
Diminish or lessen gradually, end by degrees, as in The storm finally tapered off . [Mid-1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The share of advancing stocks, or breadth, had started to taper off even before the S&P 500 hit its Oct.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 30, 2025
The perk starts to taper off for joint filers with incomes from $300,000 to $550,000, or $150,000 and $400,000 for singles.
From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025
Doctors say it’s best to taper off gradually.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025
And in time, many will taper off their medication too.
From BBC • Oct. 17, 2025
Their voices taper off as they move farther into the house.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
