tail off
phrasal verb
tailed off; tailing off; tails off
: to become smaller or quieter in a gradual way
Our productivity tailed off last year.
She started to ask a question and then her voice tailed off.
Examples of tail off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Legette, meanwhile, had an OK season in 2024 as a rookie but has seen all of his numbers slightly tail off in 2025.
—
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
The team got off to a fast start, winning three and drawing one of their first four league matches, but their form under Mason tailed off substantially and now find themselves just seven points above the relegation zone.
—Leon Imber, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Ulloa closed the Red Bird store to concentrate on music management when business started to tail off in 1995 as mass merchants and box stores like Best Buy began selling CDs at bargain prices.
—Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
Mingo was set to return after four weeks, and Brooks and Jalen Cropper were hot on his tail off the practice squad.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tail off
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Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
The team got off to a fast start, winning three and drawing one of their first four league matches, but their form under Mason tailed off substantially and now find themselves just seven points above the relegation zone.
—Leon Imber, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Ulloa closed the Red Bird store to concentrate on music management when business started to tail off in 1995 as mass merchants and box stores like Best Buy began selling CDs at bargain prices.
—Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
Mingo was set to return after four weeks, and Brooks and Jalen Cropper were hot on his tail off the practice squad.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tail off
Cite this Entry
“Tail off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tail%20off. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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