# fade out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fade-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to slowly disappear or become quieter until you cannot see or hear it anymore.

For teachers: to decrease gradually in volume or visibility until silence or darkness is reached. It functions both intransitively and transitively, particularly in audio-visual contexts.

## Examples

- The music begins to fade out at the end of the song.
- As the sun set, the bright colors of the sky started to fade out into a deep purple.
- The film ends with a slow fade out, leaving the audience to reflect on the protagonist's final words in the gathering darkness.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The radio signal started to fade off." but "The radio signal started to fade out." — the particle 'out' is the standard choice for signals or sounds disappearing; 'off' is not used in this context.

## Usage notes

- commonly describes the gradual ending of sounds, lights, or cinematic scenes.
- Teaching tip: compare with 'fade in' to show the opposite process, and note that 'fade out' is the standard technical term in audio and video editing.

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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.