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
Peak production numbers lie somewhere in the 1987-1991 period, then tailed off through the early 2000s, and have been on the rise again since about 2015.
—
Corey Merriman, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Though his impact tailed off after halftime (0-for-4, two rebounds, four fouls, minus-11), Williams left a positive impression on his veteran teammates.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
At others, the episode tails off; dialogue subsides into silence, as though by default.
—Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Weather is another reason to go during the shoulder season—particularly September and October, when the high temperatures cool to around the mid-80s, as opposed to the 90s, and the daily rains tail off.
—Bailey Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tail off
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Corey Merriman, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Though his impact tailed off after halftime (0-for-4, two rebounds, four fouls, minus-11), Williams left a positive impression on his veteran teammates.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
At others, the episode tails off; dialogue subsides into silence, as though by default.
—Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Weather is another reason to go during the shoulder season—particularly September and October, when the high temperatures cool to around the mid-80s, as opposed to the 90s, and the daily rains tail off.
—Bailey Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
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 11 Feb. 2026.
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