trail off
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
slowly get quieter or weaker and then stop
Literal meaning: to extend off in a trailing way
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
to gradually become quieter and then stop, especially when speaking
"He started explaining, then his voice trailed off."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
to gradually become less in amount, strength, or interest
"Attendance trailed off after the first week of the festival."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Very common with voices, conversations, interest, and written lines showing unfinished speech.
Commonly used with
voice sentence conversation interest sound applause
Forms
Base
trail off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
trails off
he/she/it
Past simple
trailed off
yesterday
Past participle
trailed off
have + pp
-ing form
trailing off
continuous
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Synonyms
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