wear away
phrasal verb
wore away; worn away; wearing away; wears away
: 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 awayThe table's finish was worn away.
Examples of wear away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So when The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was announced last week — and then immediately released — some worried that the polish would wear away the charm.
—
Jamal Michel, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Long-term exposure to acids can wear away enamel in a process called tooth erosion.
—Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 30 July 2024
The tool comes pre-sharpened, and the epoxy powder coating is designed to wear away around the edges first so the sharpened edge will continuously be revealed and grow sharper as it is used.
—Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2025
Chondroitin sulfate appears to lessen changes in bone associated with the wearing away of cartilage from osteoarthritis.1
6.
—Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025
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“Wear away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20away. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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