taper off
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To slowly get less and less until it's almost gone or much smaller.
Literal meaning: To become narrower and thinner like the end of a taper (candle) — gradually getting smaller.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To gradually decrease in strength, intensity, or amount over time.
"The heavy rain began to taper off by midday, and the skies cleared by the afternoon."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 neutral
To gradually reduce the dose of a medication or the frequency of an activity in a controlled way.
"The doctor advised her to taper off the steroids over two weeks rather than stopping abruptly."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Common in medical, economic, and weather contexts. Very natural with subjects like rain, interest, sales, symptoms, or activity. The image comes from a taper (candle) getting thinner toward its tip.
Commonly used with
rain sales enthusiasm symptoms growth activity conversation
Forms
Base
taper off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tapers off
he/she/it
Past simple
tapered off
yesterday
Past participle
tapered off
have + pp
-ing form
tapering off
continuous
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