wear off

verb

1. (intr) to decrease in intensity gradually

   the pain will wear off in an hour

2. to disappear or cause to disappear gradually through exposure, use, etc

   the pattern on the ring had been worn off

Idioms and Phrases

Diminish gradually, lose effectiveness, as in We'll wait till the drug wears off. [Late 1600s]

Example Sentences

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift announced their engagement more than a week ago, and the excitement has yet to wear off for the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.

From Los Angeles Times

She started when she was 26 and, now 37, needs it more frequently than ever as it wears off so quickly.

From BBC

But we’ve seen this trick before — hell, we lived it — and once you know how it’s performed, the novelty wears off fast.

From Salon

When he reached the shore and the adrenaline started to wear off, he panicked and checked himself to see if he had been bitten.

From Los Angeles Times

Each pesticide treatment controls mosquito larvae for up to 90 days — so the treatment on those initial pools will wear off around mid-June, often the height of mosquito season.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• subside