# tapering

/ˈteɪpɝɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈeɪpəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tapering
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

becoming gradually thinner or smaller at one end. You use this to describe the shape of things like candles, leaves, or fingers.

For teachers: becoming gradually narrower toward one end. Often used to describe physical objects or the gradual reduction of a process or activity.

## Examples

- The tree has long, tapering leaves.
- The architect designed the skyscraper with a tapering top to help it withstand high winds at great altitudes.
- The artist used a series of tapering lines to create a sense of depth and perspective, drawing the viewer's eye toward the distant horizon of the landscape.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a participial adjective; can appear both before a noun and after a linking verb.

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