wear off

phrasal verb

wore off; worn off; wearing off; wears off
: to gradually decrease, disappear, or stop
The painkillers wore off after a couple of hours.
The shine on the leather will wear off pretty quickly.
After you drive a new car for a while, the novelty wears off.

Examples of wear off in a Sentence

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.
The slouchy V-neck has stylish batwing sleeves and can be worn off the shoulder and tucked in for a more classy, put-together look. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026 The other possibility is that there is rust on the brakes that has not worn off. John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026 The joke was that none of us outside Tampa had even realized the game was happening, because at this point there’s so many of these outdoor games that the novelty has completely worn off. Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 This change reduces volatility and extends wear time, allowing the patchouli to register steadily rather than peaking early and wearing off. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear off

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Cite this Entry

“Wear off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20off. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.

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