wear away
phrasal verb
wore away; worn away; wearing away; wears away
: to gradually disappear or to cause (something) to gradually disappear or become thinner, smaller, etc., because of use
The paint on the sign had worn away.
Even a trickle of water will eventually wear rock away.
—often used as (be) worn awayThe table's finish was worn away.
Examples of wear away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is not to be confused with gold plating which results in a very thin layer that wears away easily.
—
David Flett, Robb Report, 2 July 2024
These 30—the scribes—had developed osteoarthritis: Their joint tissues wore away with use.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2024
Add caulking to fill spots along the windowsill that have worn away, Dillingham says.
—Nerdwallet, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024
By this point, the cartilage between the bones has worn away, causing the bones to rub together.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for wear away 
David Flett, Robb Report, 2 July 2024
These 30—the scribes—had developed osteoarthritis: Their joint tissues wore away with use.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2024
Add caulking to fill spots along the windowsill that have worn away, Dillingham says.
—Nerdwallet, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024
By this point, the cartilage between the bones has worn away, causing the bones to rub together.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for wear away
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wear away.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wear away
Cite this Entry
“Wear away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20away. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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