petered; petering; peters
1
: to diminish gradually and come to an end : give out
—usually used with out
novelists whose creative impetus seems largely to have petered out—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)2
: to become exhausted
—usually used with out
1
: a fisherman of Galilee and one of the twelve apostles
2
: either of two hortatory letters written to early Christians and included as books of the New Testament see Bible Table
Examples of peter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Lee, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2023
Even if the Fed does nothing, so long as there are no more shocks, inflation will eventually peter out.
—John H. Cochrane, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022
And although the downsides of obstetric anesthesia have largely fallen away in the 175 years since its first use, the desire among some women to experience labor in all its brutality has yet to fully peter out, and perhaps never will.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2022
Tomatoes and most garden vegetables are heavy feeders, and after the initial burst of spring growth in fresh soil and compost, their productivity can peter out in midsummer.
—Susan Brownstein, cleveland, 21 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for peter
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Verb
This river typically peters out as its water is diverted for irrigation.
—Jack Lee, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2023
Even if the Fed does nothing, so long as there are no more shocks, inflation will eventually peter out.
—John H. Cochrane, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022
And although the downsides of obstetric anesthesia have largely fallen away in the 175 years since its first use, the desire among some women to experience labor in all its brutality has yet to fully peter out, and perhaps never will.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2022
Tomatoes and most garden vegetables are heavy feeders, and after the initial burst of spring growth in fresh soil and compost, their productivity can peter out in midsummer.
—Susan Brownstein, cleveland, 21 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for peter
Cite this Entry
“Peter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peter. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
peter
1 of 2 verb
pe·ter
ˈpēt-ər
1
: to slowly come to an end
—usually used with out
her popularity petered out
2
: to become exhausted
—usually used with out
raked half the lawn before he petered out
Biographical Definition
Peter
biographical name
Pe·ter
ˈpē-tər 
circa 1050–1115 the Hermit French preacher of the 1st Crusade
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