wear off

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

to diminish in effect

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The effect of the injection will gradually wear off.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

to disappear because of being abraded, over-polished, or abused

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “wear off” mean?

to diminish in effect

Is “wear off” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.