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

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

Treating these small injuries, often caused by sports injuries, can stop the progression toward osteoarthritis, the debilitating condition that occurs when cartilage wears away, causing severe pain and inflammation in the joints. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Being a softer metal, tin linings can also wear away over time, requiring occasional re-tinning. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026

Cuba’s socialist utopianism wore away gradually. —Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for wear away

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