peter out

phrasal verb

petered out; petering out; peters out
informal
: to gradually become smaller, weaker, or less before stopping or ending
Their romantic relationship petered out after the summer.
Interest in the sport is beginning to peter out.

Examples of peter out in a Sentence

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But by the time the crew settles into the rhythm of the charter, the drama peters out. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 June 2025 But then, like an exhausted and grumpy cubicle worker at the end of a long shift, Claude too begins to peter out. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 3 June 2025 For a while, the character and I had the parameters of a genre that then sort of peters out, just like his plan. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025 But after the baby is delivered, health care appointments often peter out and the woman's well-being takes a backseat. Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for peter out

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Cite this Entry

“Peter out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peter%20out. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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