wear away

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 away

The table's finish was worn away.

Examples of wear away in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The steady partners have released bowling shoes on several occasions and have made sure to warn that the soles are risky to wear away from an alley. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

Then writing became my job in my mid-20s, and that professionalism wore away any playfulness that was left in reading. — Maggie Shipstead, Longreads, 27 Oct. 2026

That’s why enamel can’t heal the way skin or bone can, and why your body can’t replace any part that wears away or erodes. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for wear away

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway