wear away

verb

wore away; worn away; wearing away; wears away
Synonyms of wear awaynext
: to gradually disappear or to cause (something) to gradually disappear or become thinner, smaller, etc., because of use
The paint on the sign had worn away.
Even a trickle of water will eventually wear rock away.
often used as (be) worn away
The table's finish was worn away.

Examples of wear away 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.
Time has worn away the importance of the art. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 June 2026 As the rocks eroded and wore away into their iconic shapes, Native people hunted, gathered and farmed beside them. Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026 Almost one in four adults over 40 has knee osteoarthritis, a common knee issue that occurs when cartilage in joints wears away from use. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Apr. 2026 Support for capital punishment has been worn away by an accumulation of forces. Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear away

Cite this Entry

“Wear away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20away. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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