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Meaning & use

wear off

verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌweər ˈɒf/
US/ˌwer ˈɔːf/

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    If an effect or feeling wears off, it gradually becomes weaker and then disappears.

    Grammar: No object: the thing that fades is the subject, as in 'The pain wore off.'

    Patterns

    • something wears off
    • the effect wears off
    • the feeling wears off

    The painkiller started to wear off after about four hours.

    My excitement about the new job wore off once I saw the workload.

    Don't worry — the numbness will wear off soon.

  2. verbintransitive

    If a mark, shine, or surface quality wears off, it slowly disappears because of use or rubbing.

    Grammar: No object; often used about things like paint, gold, or writing.

    Patterns

    • something wears off
    • the paint wears off
    • the shine wears off

    The gold on the ring has worn off at the edges.

    The writing on the label wore off after a few washes.

    The polish wears off quickly on cheap furniture.

Word forms

third person singularwears off
past tensewore off
past participleworn off
-ing formwearing off

Common combinations

wear off after a while
The dizziness wore off after a while.
wear off quickly
The effects of the drug wear off quickly.
wear off completely
The anesthetic hadn't worn off completely yet.
begin to wear off
The novelty began to wear off after a month.

Synonyms and how they differ

fade
Fade suggests becoming weaker or less bright, often gradually; wear off is more common for effects and feelings that end completely.
diminish
Diminish is more formal and means to become smaller or less; wear off is used for things that disappear on their own.
subside
Subside is used for pain, noise, or strong feelings becoming less severe; wear off often suggests a natural end after time.

Opposites

intensifystrengthen

Word family

wear verb
To have on the body, or to damage by long use.
wearing adjective
Tiring; making you feel exhausted.

Commonly confused: wear off or wear out?

wear off vs wear out

Wear out means to become unusable through long use, or to make someone very tired; wear off means to fade away.

Practice

The medicine's effect will ______ in a few hours, so you may need another dose.

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