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

Harsh scrubbing can wear away the protective sealants that keep water and bacteria out, damaging grout lines and shortening their lifespan. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

And while scrubbing grout feels productive, aggressive pressure can wear away the protective sealant and damage the grout lines themselves. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026

Almost one in four adults over 40 has knee osteoarthritis, a common knee issue that occurs when cartilage in joints wears away from use. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Apr. 2026

Look for curled edges, bare spots where granules have worn away and any flashing that looks lifted or bent. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for wear away

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