taper off

slowly become less or smaller until it almost stops

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What does "taper off" mean?

To taper off describes a gradual, often slow reduction in something — amount, intensity, or frequency — until it reaches a low level or stops altogether. The process is characterised by its incremental nature: rather than a sudden drop, there is a steady decline over time. Crucially, this phrasal verb describes something that happens naturally or organically, without necessarily implying that anyone is deliberately causing the reduction. It is most at home in analytical, journalistic, or professional contexts, where the subject is typically an abstract quantity such as demand, growth, interest, or symptoms. The connotation is neutral and data-oriented, making it a precise and measured way to describe decline.

Examples

How to use it

subject (abstract noun) + taper off

The most common structure — an abstract noun or phenomenon acts as the subject, and the verb is used without any object.

Consumer confidence has tapered off considerably in recent months.

subject + begin/start/expect + to taper off

Used with verbs like 'begin', 'start', or 'expect' to signal that the decline is underway or anticipated.

Analysts expect the surge in energy prices to taper off by the end of the year.

subject + gradually/slowly/eventually + taper off

Adverbs are frequently added before or after the verb to emphasise the pace or degree of the decline.

Interest in the campaign gradually tapered off as the months went by.

subject + taper off + to + noun/number

Used when specifying the level or point at which the decline settles or ends.

Rainfall has tapered off to almost nothing since the start of the dry season.

subject + taper off + significantly/sharply

Degree adverbs can follow the verb to indicate how pronounced the reduction is.

Momentum behind the initiative has tapered off significantly since the initial launch.

Common Collocations

sales taper offinterest tapers offgrowth tapers offsupport tapers offsymptoms taper off

Common Mistakes

Using it as a transitive verb

'Taper off' is intransitive — it cannot take a direct object. If you want to describe a deliberate, managed reduction of something, use 'phase out', 'scale back', or 'reduce' instead.

✗ The company decided to taper off their marketing budget.
✓ The company decided to scale back their marketing budget. / The marketing budget has tapered off.
Confusing it with 'phase out'

'Phase out' is transitive and describes a deliberate decision by an agent to reduce or discontinue something; 'taper off' is intransitive and describes a natural or organic decline with no necessary agent.

✗ The government is tapering off the subsidy programme this year.
✓ The government is phasing out the subsidy programme this year. / Support for the programme has tapered off.
Using a personal subject

The subject of 'taper off' is almost always an abstract noun — a quantity, activity, or phenomenon. Using a person as the subject sounds unnatural.

✗ She tapered off after working hard all month.
✓ Her productivity has tapered off after such an intense month.

Usage

This phrasal verb is more formal and analytical than alternatives like 'die down' or 'fizzle out', making it a strong choice in academic essays, business reports, or journalism. It is common in both British and American English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'taper off' be used in the passive?

No — because 'taper off' is an intransitive verb with no direct object, it cannot be made passive. There is nothing to become the subject of a passive construction. You can only use it in the active voice with an abstract subject, such as 'Attendance has tapered off.'

What kinds of things can 'taper off'?

Almost always abstract nouns representing quantities, activities, or phenomena — things like sales, demand, growth, support, enthusiasm, rainfall, symptoms, or momentum. Essentially anything measurable or perceivable that can decline gradually over time. Using a person as the subject is not natural with this phrasal verb.

Is 'taper off' more British or American English?

'Taper off' is used in both British and American English, but it is somewhat more common in American English, particularly in quantitative and analytical contexts. The closely related alternative 'tail off' tends to be slightly more frequent in British English.

Does 'taper off' mean something has completely stopped?

Not necessarily. 'Taper off' describes a gradual reduction that may end in a very low level or a complete stop, but the emphasis is on the slow, declining process rather than a definitive end. Whether it reaches zero depends on context.

Can I use 'taper' alone instead of 'taper off'?

In medical or clinical contexts, 'taper' alone is sometimes used specifically to mean reducing a dosage gradually, as in 'the doctor told her to taper the medication'. Outside of that specific usage, 'taper off' is the natural choice for describing the broader process of gradual decline.

Related Phrasal Verbs

drop off
ease off
fall off

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