1 C1 neutral
For a flame or light to flicker and then go out completely.
"The last candle guttered out, leaving the room in complete darkness."
inseparable
gutter out
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To fade away gradually and die out, like a candle flame guttering before it goes out.
In plain English
To slowly get weaker and then stop completely, like a candle going out.
What does "gutter out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
For enthusiasm, energy, a movement, or a project to gradually fade and come to a quiet end.
"The reform movement, once so promising, guttered out after its founders lost funding."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For a flame to gutter (flicker unevenly) and then go out completely.
Actually means
To slowly get weaker and then stop completely, like a candle going out.
Usage tip
Relatively rare. Used both literally (of flames or lights) and figuratively (of enthusiasm, projects, or movements). Has a literary or poetic quality. Derived from the verb 'gutter', meaning for a candle flame to flicker because of melted wax running down its side.
Words that pair with "gutter out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
flame candle enthusiasm movement career initiative
How to conjugate "gutter out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
gutter out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gutters out
he/she/it
Past simple
guttered out
yesterday
Past participle
guttered out
have + pp
-ing form
guttering out
continuous
Hear "gutter out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "gutter out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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