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
Recent Examples on the Web
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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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
Cite this Entry
“Peter out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peter%20out. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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