fade-out

noun

ˈfād-ˌau̇t How to pronounce fade-out (audio)
: an act or instance of fading out
especially : a gradual decrease in loudness, strength, or visibility (as at the end of an audio or video track)

Examples of fade-out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Earth doesn't experience this decline as a calm fade-out. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025 It’s been a gradual fade-out dotted with fewer and fewer flashes of potential. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025 Is this just stage one of the slow, graceful fade-out both players desire — a farewell tour that lasts multiple years like Elton John? — Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024 Laser sunbursts and clouded fade-outs replace traditional abrasion, showcasing Rimaks’s laundry artistry in a low-impact way. — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fade-out was in 1917

Rhymes for fade-out

See All Rhymes for fade-out

Browse Nearby Words

Fade-Ometer
fade-out
fader
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fade-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fade-out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fade-out

Nglish: Translation of fade-out for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All