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 as consumer demand lulls—either because buyers decided to make the purchase or are holding off until the tariff dust settled—the frenzy is beginning to peter out. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 July 2025 The storm began to peter out as the sun sank, and the overcast sky blocked most of the sunset. Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 16 July 2025 In fact, several plotlines emerge and then just peter out without any real resolution. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 22 May 2025 Could young Wharton become a transfer option for Los Blancos as their campaign threatens to peter out? Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 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 27 Jul. 2025.

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