taper off

verb

tapered off; tapering off; tapers off
: taper
housing starts tapered off in the fall

Examples of taper off in a Sentence

at this time of the year, light begins to taper off a little earlier each day
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Moreover, heavy snow will develop over the Sierra Nevada Mountains on Tuesday, tapering off by Wednesday. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 Williams added that the underlying drivers of the silver market show no sign of tapering off, suggesting the bull run on silver could be sustained well into 2026. Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025 Time to taper off the line changes that would make Jared Bednar blush. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025 Rain is expected to taper off by Wednesday afternoon as the system moves east, leaving behind cooler, breezy conditions. Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for taper off

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of taper off was in 1848

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Cite this Entry

“Taper off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taper%20off. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

taper off

verb
: to stop or lessen gradually

More from Merriam-Webster on taper off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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