Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined phrasal verb:
The crowd at the book fair tailed off after the first weekend, and many stalls closed early.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → dwindled
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as up, out or together. The two words together have a new meaning.
Tail off means to become smaller, fewer or weaker little by little. Its closest meaning is dwindled. Example: The rain tailed off by evening, and we went out to play.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) surged | to rise or move forward suddenly and strongly | Fans surged towards the gate when the cricketers arrived. |
| (2) dwindled (answer) | to become smaller in number or size over time (same as tail off) | The money in my piggy bank dwindled during the summer holidays. |
| (3) lingered | to stay somewhere longer than needed | A few parents lingered at the school gate after the bell rang. |
| (4) shifted | to move from one place or position to another | The vegetable market shifted to the new ground near the bus stand. |