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 away

The table's finish was worn away.

Examples of wear away in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additional research has shown the same four-part program can lower blood sugars and heart disease risk in patients with diabetes, reduce prostate cancer cell growth, improve depression and even lengthen telomeres, the protective caps of chromosomes that are worn away by aging. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 29 July 2025

One possibility is that friction at the roller-socket interface caused the surrounding wood to wear away, leading to a slight narrowing of the roller at the point of contact. —Kai James, JSTOR Daily, 3 July 2025

Sun-protective clothing with a UPF of 50+ offers consistent, long-lasting UV protection that doesn’t wash off or wear away like sunscreen. —Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 1 July 2025

Clasts may have been embedded in the dark rock and then wore away, leaving pits behind. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for wear away

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