wear off
Britishverb
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(intr) to decrease in intensity gradually
the pain will wear off in an hour
-
to disappear or cause to disappear gradually through exposure, use, etc
the pattern on the ring had been worn off
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.
Professor Edwin Galea, from the University of Greenwich, said the effectiveness of retardant treatment on PU foam can wear off over time.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026
The shine started to wear off quickly, though.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025
"We did not see its effect wear off over time."
From Science Daily • Nov. 18, 2025
So far, stocks have largely ignored tariffs’ threat to the economy, assuming that any resulting inflation will wear off next year.
From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025
The fairy godmother warned Cinderella that she had to leave the ball by midnight because the magic spells would wear off then.
From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene
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.
