verb
Very common
Peter
PEE-tuh
Peter (verb) means to gradually decrease and come to nothing, especially followed by "out.". Example: “Interest in the project petered out after a few months.”
verb
1
To gradually decrease and come to nothing, especially followed by "out."
"Interest in the project petered out after a few months."
"The trail petered out into thick brush."
noun
1
Slang for a safe or strongbox, or, separately, for a prison cell.
"In old crime slang, cracking a "peter" meant breaking open a safe."
How to use Peter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly used today as "peter out" — to slowly fizzle away to nothing.
When to use it
The safe/cell noun senses are dated criminal slang, rarely seen outside old fiction.
Common pairings
peter out
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Word forms
- Plural
- Peters
- Third person singular
- peters
- Past tense
- petered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Interest in the project _____ out after a few months.
Etymology
This name came into English as Middle English Peter, from Old English Petrus, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”). It is a doublet of Pedro, Piers and Boutros.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Peter
See all rhymes for Peter →Frequently asked questions
What does “Peter” mean?
The word “Peter” means to gradually decrease and come to nothing, especially followed by "out.". In plain terms, most commonly used today as "peter out" — to slowly fizzle away to nothing.
How do you pronounce “Peter”?
“Peter” is pronounced PEE-tuh (/ˈpitɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Peter” in a sentence?
Here is “Peter” used in a sentence: “Interest in the project petered out after a few months.”
What part of speech is “Peter”?
Depending on how it is used, “Peter” can be a verb and a noun.
Is “Peter” a common word?
“Peter” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Peter” have?
“Peter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to gradually decrease and come to nothing, especially followed by "out.".
What does 'peter out' mean?
To peter out is to dwindle gradually until nothing is left. It describes energy, supplies, conversations, or trails that fade slowly rather than stopping suddenly — 'the path petered out' or 'their enthusiasm petered out.' The verb almost always appears with 'out,' and it emphasises a slow, tapering decline toward exhaustion or disappearance.
What is the difference between 'peter out' and 'fizzle out'?
Both describe something coming to a weak, gradual end. 'Peter out' stresses slow shrinking until nothing remains, like a stream drying up. 'Fizzle out' adds a note of disappointment or anticlimax — something promising that ends limply, like a party or plan that loses steam. Peter out is fairly neutral; fizzle out implies a letdown.
Where does the phrase 'peter out' come from?
Its origin is uncertain. The expression appears in nineteenth-century American English, and one popular theory links it to mining, where a vein of ore would 'peter out' as it thinned to nothing. Other sources have been suggested but none is proven. What is clear is that it has meant gradual exhaustion since at least the 1800s.
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