tailing off
Slowly losing momentum
Tailing off describes a gradual diminishing or fading, like a tail trailing behind and growing thinner: The applause tailed off after a few seconds.
It suggests something losing momentum or intensity rather than stopping abruptly—conversation tailing off into silence, sales tailing off toward year's end, a voice tailing off mid-sentence.
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- decreasingBecoming smaller or fewer
- petering outGradually diminishing to nothing
- fizzling outGradually losing momentum
- letupReduction in intensity
declining · ebb · waning · dying down · quiet down · lessening · fading · taper · subside · dwindle · slacken · abate · die down · losing steam · recede · downturn · fade · wane
tailing offsurging
Rising with sudden force
intensifying · ramping up · escalating · picking up · building up
tailing offgathering steam
Gaining power progressively
taking off · building momentum · revving up · cranking up · firing up
tailing offstarting up
Beginning operation or activity
kicking off · commencing · launching · setting in · beginning
tail, tailing, off, tails, tailed, tailer, tailless, tailgate, tailspin