taper off
Definition
Verb: 1. To gradually decrease in amount, intensity, or degree: To become smaller, weaker, or less active over a period of time. 2. To come to a gradual or weak end: To diminish slowly until stopping, often without a clear or definitive conclusion.
Usage and Examples
- Gradual Decrease:
- The rain will taper off by this evening.
- Sales of the product usually taper off after the holiday season.
- He decided to taper off his medication under the doctor's supervision.
- Weak Ending:
- The conversation tapered off into an awkward silence.
- Her voice tapered off as she lost confidence in what she was saying.
- The path tapers off into the forest.
Advanced Usage
- Transitive Use: "Taper off" can sometimes be used with a direct object, meaning to cause something to decrease gradually.
- The company is tapering off production of the older model.
Variants and Related Words
- Taper (verb): To become gradually narrower or thinner toward one end, or to cause something to do so. This is the core meaning from which "taper off" is derived.
- The candle tapers at the top.
- Tapering (adjective/noun): Describing or referring to a gradual decrease.
- There are signs of a tapering demand.
Synonyms
- Diminish: To become or make less.
- Subside: To become less intense, violent, or severe.
- Peter out: To gradually become smaller, weaker, or less frequent before stopping or disappearing. (Note: This is the synonym provided in the reference context.)
- Wind down: To gradually reduce activity or intensity before ending.
- Dwindle: To become gradually less until little remains.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Die down: To become gradually less strong or loud before stopping.
- The noise died down after midnight.
- Ease off: To reduce in severity, intensity, or pressure.
- The pain should ease off in a few hours.
Verb
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become smaller or less active
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Business tapered off
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end weakly
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The music just petered out--there was no proper ending
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