Phrase guide

fade out

noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A type of transition used in film, usually at the end of a scene, involving a fade to black from the cut.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To slowly disappear; to wither away.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To sneak away.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To fade from a cut to black in a movie.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To decrease in volume, such as at the end of a song, until there is only silence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Topics: audio, electrical-engineering, engineering, entertainment, lifestyle, music, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

become weaker

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The sound faded out

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dissolve, fade away

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change state, turn

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 淡出 (dànchū) — type of transition used in movies
  • Finnish: häivytys — type of transition used in movies
  • French: fondu de fermeture — type of transition used in movies
  • German: Ausblenden — type of transition used in movies
  • Polish: fade-out — type of transition used in movies
  • Polish: wygaszanie — type of transition used in movies
  • Esperanto: fadi — to slowly disappear
  • Finnish: häipyä näkymättömiin — to slowly disappear
  • Māori: memeha — to slowly disappear
  • Māori: rerehu — to slowly disappear
  • Māori: tāromaroma — to slowly disappear
  • Māori: kōriorio — to slowly disappear
  • Māori: ngongohe — to slowly disappear
  • Māori: tāmatemate — to slowly disappear
  • Polish: zanikać — to slowly disappear
  • Polish: zaniknąć — to slowly disappear
  • Polish: rozmywać się — to slowly disappear
  • Polish: rozmyć się — to slowly disappear
  • Spanish: evanescer — to slowly disappear
  • Spanish: desvanecer — to slowly disappear
  • Finnish: häivyttää — to fade from a cut to black in a movie
  • German: ausblenden — to fade from a cut to black in a movie
  • Polish: wygasać — to fade from a cut to black in a movie
  • Polish: wygasnąć — to fade from a cut to black in a movie