# taper off

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/taper-off
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To diminish or lessen gradually; to become or make smaller, slower, quieter, etc.

## Examples

- The rain started to taper off in the afternoon.
- The doctor told me to taper off my medication slowly rather than stopping it all at once.
- As the excitement of the festival began to taper off, the crowd slowly drifted away into the quiet night.

## Origin

From *taper* and *off*. The term functions as a phrasal verb, recorded as a development of the noun *taper*, a slender candle that narrows toward its tip.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.