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Definitions

peter out

VERB
dwindle, decrease
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate die out ebb evaporate fade recede tail away tail off taper off wane
WEAK
come to nothing die down diminish drain dry up fail give out lessen run dry run low run out slack off stop
Antonyms
STRONGEST
increase rise
WEAK
grow

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It remains to be seen when the rally will peter out.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

Navellier, for his part, told MarketWatch he was “not worried about valuations” and expected the selloff to peter out “sooner rather than later.”

From MarketWatch • Nov. 18, 2025

Lingering showers are expected to peter out by Wednesday evening, with drying and warming winds sweeping across the county that night.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025

Now, after more than 3½ years of conflict, the gusher is slowly starting to peter out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 28, 2025

They are better trained than the Dauntless, whose voices take thirty seconds to peter out.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth