To Wear Off – Meaning and Examples

Have you ever taken medicine that stopped working after a few hours? Or felt nervous before a speech—but then calmed down? In English, we say the effect began to wear off. This useful phrase helps you describe how feelings, pain, excitement, or even makeup gradually disappear with time.

What Does “to wear off” Mean?

“To wear off” means something slowly disappears or loses its effect over time. Think of it like ice melting in the sun—it doesn’t vanish all at once, but little by little. It’s not about clothes “wearing” or “off” as directions; it’s about things fading naturally.

When to Use It

You’ll often hear “to wear off” in everyday situations like:
• Talking about medicine or pain (“The painkiller started to wear off.”)
• Describing emotions (“My nervousness wore off once I started speaking.”)
• Mentioning temporary things like makeup, polish, or smells (“The glitter wore off by lunchtime.”)
It’s neutral—great for speaking with friends, family, or even in casual writing like texts or emails.

Example Sentences

• The excitement from the surprise party finally wore off by bedtime.
• Don’t worry—this headache will wear off in an hour or two.
• The sunscreen wore off after swimming, so I got a little sunburned.
• Her confidence wore off as the interview went on.

Mini Dialogue

Jasmine: “Are you still feeling dizzy from the ride?”

Leo: “A little, but it’s starting to wear off. I’ll be fine soon.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t use “wear off” for things that stop suddenly—it’s only for gradual fading. Also, remember it’s always “wear off,” not “wear out” (which means to get tired or break from use).

❌ Don’t: “My phone battery wore off.” (Batteries die or run out—they don’t “wear off.”)
✅ Do: “The numbness from the dentist is starting to wear off.”

Final Note

Now you can use “to wear off” to describe how things fade away naturally over time—just like native speakers do! Keep practicing, and soon it’ll feel easy and automatic. You’re doing great!