to taper
- verb
- /ˈteɪpər/
- Initially, trainers accompany clients for their whole journey, but this can taper off over time in line with a person's ability.
- tapers off over time
- gradually tapers
- begin to taper
OK, I'm guessing we're tapering back down now, too.
- OK, I'm guessing we're tapering back down now, too.
- Since that vlog, I really have tapered back my workouts.
- Over the years, we have slowly but surely tried to taper him off his meds.
- Like it's kind of hard and it doesn't taper.
- So getting to fiction, we had fiction last week when Bernanke said that he was going to taper.
- So then when bonds start to sell off after Bernanke, Fed Chairman Bernanke said he's going to taper quantitative easing.
- They they tapered the asset purchases, they raised rates, they sank the stock market.
- And it's like tapering what we call tapering down an athlete or, you know, in my life, I have seasons.
- He's a Grand Master and his his production starts to taper off as I think quite understandable.
- Growth is most often at its maximum at the beginning of each school year and tapers off towards spring.
- It seems to have taper off in the moment or you're just not hearing about it.
Examples
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The numbers start to build a week before and taper off gradually afterward.
Fiction book (2001) -
The patient was placed on prednisolone and was tapered off over the following six weeks.
Academic text (1996) -
So they just taper down and start to get close to zero.
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You can see they kind of taper off, but this is flat, straight up.
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We can now aim sound to a certain distance and then have it taper off relatively quickly.
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The damage appears to taper off further away from ground zero.
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Showers will continue through this evening and should taper off by tomorrow morning.
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The rate of growth tapered off somewhat in these states between 1990 and 2000.
Academic text (2005) -
Fortunately, the average daily frequency of contributions tapered down to a more manageable level.
Academic text (1994) -
The rain will taper off later in the evening, providing a clear night sky.
Synonyms
To make something smaller in amount, size, or number
To move or act more slowly
To become less in size, importance, or value
Become less in amount or value
To become smaller or less in number over time
To make something smaller in amount or number
Become less in number, amount, or quality
To become less in size, amount, or strength
To become less strong or loud over time
To make something smaller in amount or strength
To become less in number or amount
To make something smaller by removing small parts
Make something, like a taste, sound, or plan, less strong
To make a list or group smaller by removing items over time
To become gradually less strong or severe
Make something smaller by removing parts you do not need
To make something weaker, like sound or light
To become smaller or weaker over time until it stops
To make something smaller in size or amount
To make a feeling, sound, or action less strong
Reduce something to a lower level, for example power or voltage
To make something smaller gradually by cutting or wearing it away
To become less over time
Slowly get smaller in number or amount until nothing remains
To make something less in small steps that are hard to bring back
To become slowly smaller or less until almost nothing remains
Antonyms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Specialized
A hand tool with edges that narrow to a point for shaping and smoothing metal or wood
How Much
Surface Forms
Etymology
Taper off means to become smaller or fewer slowly. Think of a road or shape that gets narrower and narrower — that's why we use 'taper' when something decreases gradually.