Meaning & use
peter out
Last updated
To gradually diminish or come to an end, typically used in the phrase "peter out."
See it in a sentence
Their enthusiasm for the project slowly petered out after a few weeks.
The trail petered out into an overgrown field with no clear path forward.
A note on using this word
This verb almost always appears in the fixed phrase "peter out" and is rarely used alone.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “peter out”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.