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
But neighbors said the extra measures tailed off about the time Hale was convicted in April 2004.
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Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Helman had a very hot stretch in late July and August, but tailed off badly in September.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tail off
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Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Helman had a very hot stretch in late July and August, but tailed off badly in September.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
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
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 4 Mar. 2026.
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