taper

verb

ta·​per ˈtā-pər 

tapered; tapering ˈtā-p(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to become progressively smaller toward one end

2

: to diminish gradually

transitive verb

: to cause to taper

Synonyms of taper

• decrease
• subside
• diminish
• ease
• shrink
• decline
• fall

Examples of taper in a Sentence

leaves that taper to a point

you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine

Recent Examples on the Web

And the 2026 Lancet Psychiatry network meta-analysis of 76 trials found abrupt discontinuation of any antidepressant carried meaningfully higher relapse risk than slow tapering with psychological support. —Jonathan Slater, STAT, 13 May 2026

Meanwhile the tiered effect tapers the hair, adding extra volume at each level (like an upside-down coffee cup). —Elle Turner, Glamour, 4 May 2026

Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees, or CORE, work on two- to four-year assignments, though they traditionally have been routinely renewed, a system that allows the agency to build up and taper down its capacity as needed. —ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026

The powder blue car was shaped like a torpedo, with Rolls-Royce’s unmistakable vertical grille, an open cockpit and a rear that tapered like a dove. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing taper

• taper off

Rhymes for taper

• caper
• paper
• raper
• scraper
• shaper
• vapor
• newspaper
• notepaper
• sandpaper
• skyscraper
• wallpaper
• wastepaper

Kids Definition

taper

1 of 2 noun

ta·​per ˈtā-pər 

1

a

: a long waxed wick used especially for lighting lamps, pipes, or fires

b

: a slender candle

2

a

: a tapering form or figure

b

: gradual lessening of thickness, diameter, or width in a long object

c

: a gradual decrease

taper

2 of 2 verb

tapered; tapering

ˈtā-p(ə-)riŋ

1

: to make or become gradually smaller toward one end

2

: to become gradually less and less