1 B1 neutral
(Film/audio) To gradually reduce the brightness of an image or the volume of a sound until it disappears completely.
"The engineer faded out the guitar track slowly at the end of the song."
separable
fade out
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To gradually decrease in strength, visibility, or volume until disappearing, or to bring something to an end gradually.
In plain English
To slowly disappear or get quieter until it's gone.
What does "fade out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
For something such as a career, trend, or relationship to gradually come to an end.
"His acting career faded out in the late 1990s after a string of box-office failures."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
For a person to gradually stop being involved in a group or activity.
"After the argument, she started to fade out of our social circle."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move outward while becoming less distinct.
Actually means
To slowly disappear or get quieter until it's gone.
Usage tip
Very common in film and music production as a technical term. The noun 'fade-out' is also frequently used. In general usage, can describe careers, trends, or relationships that end gradually rather than abruptly.
Words that pair with "fade out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
music scene career image trend relationship
How to conjugate "fade out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fade out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fades out
he/she/it
Past simple
faded out
yesterday
Past participle
faded out
have + pp
-ing form
fading out
continuous
Hear "fade out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fade out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.