wear off

phrasal verb

wore off; worn off; wearing off; wears off
: to gradually decrease, disappear, or stop
The painkillers wore off after a couple of hours.
The shine on the leather will wear off pretty quickly.
After you drive a new car for a while, the novelty wears off.

Examples of wear off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Well, the shine seems to have worn off of these operations, as dress codes have relaxed further, and office towers stand empty. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2024 In the afternoons, when Lindsay’s Ativan wore off, Pat would find her rocking back and forth on the living-room couch, her heart racing. Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024 The finish can wear off over time and break more easily due to water damage. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2024 Over time, the nervous system can adapt to this constant stimulation and its effects can wear off. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wear off 

Cite this Entry

“Wear off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20off. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on wear off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!