wɛr ɒf
neutral
intermediate
- Base verb:
- wear
- Particle:
- off
- Separable:
- No
What does "wear off" mean?
- To gradually disappear or diminish in effect
- To rub away or erode over time
Examples
- The painkiller started to wear off after a few hours.
- The excitement of the new job wore off quickly.
- The paint has worn off the old fence.
- Once the novelty wears off, you'll see the real challenges.
- The effects of the caffeine are wearing off.
How to use it
Often used for medications, emotions, or effects that gradually lose their impact.
Similar expressions
fade
diminish
subside
decrease
Opposites
increase
intensify
build up
Related phrasal verbs
- wear out
To become damaged or useless from use over time
- wear down
To gradually weaken or exhaust through persistent effort
- turn off
To stop a device or appliance by pressing a switch or button
- get off
To leave a bus, train, plane, or other public transport
- go off
To explode or fire (bomb, gun, fireworks)
- give off
To emit or produce something (smell, heat, light, radiation)
Use it in a practice answer
Try "wear off" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.