peter out
phrasal verb
petered out; petering out; peters out
informal
: to gradually become smaller, weaker, or less before stopping or ending
Their romantic relationship petered out after the summer.
Interest in the sport is beginning to peter out.
Examples of peter out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet the opening quarter ends in Minneapolis with zero points after drives have started with some promising chunk plays, only to peter out.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Stocks climbed, only to see the rally peter out in May.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2024
Helene was forecast to peter out over the Tennessee Valley Friday and Saturday.
—Peter Weber, theweek, 27 Sep. 2024
The gold in the ground was already beginning to peter out when the orange fruit rose on the Pacific horizon — a gleaming, glowing citrus sun, a stand-in for the sun itself on fruit crate labels, tourist guides, postcards.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024
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Andrew Greif, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Stocks climbed, only to see the rally peter out in May.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2024
Helene was forecast to peter out over the Tennessee Valley Friday and Saturday.
—Peter Weber, theweek, 27 Sep. 2024
The gold in the ground was already beginning to peter out when the orange fruit rose on the Pacific horizon — a gleaming, glowing citrus sun, a stand-in for the sun itself on fruit crate labels, tourist guides, postcards.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for peter out
Dictionary Entries Near peter out
Cite this Entry
“Peter out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peter%20out. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
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