1. present participle of peter; gradually diminishing or coming to an end
Usage: often used with ‘out’

Examples

• The rain was petering out by evening.
• His enthusiasm for the project was petering away.
• The trail was petering out as we climbed higher.
• The conversation was petering into awkward silence.
• The old mine was petering out after decades of production.
• Her energy was petering by the end of the long day.