wear

Formswears, wearing, wore, worn

1. 1
   on the bodyverbtransitive

   To have clothing, jewelry, equipment or similar on the body, at a given time or habitually; also, to have the hair or beard in a particular style.

   All visitors must wear safety goggles inside the lab.

   She wore her grandmother's necklace to the wedding.

   UsageYou put on clothes, then wear them. Past forms: wore, have worn (not incorrect: have wore).

2. 2
   get damagedverbintransitive

   To damage, thin or use something up gradually through use, rubbing or exposure, or to become damaged or reduced in this way; also, to make a hole, groove or path by such rubbing.

   Cheap carpets wear faster in busy hallways.

   Over the decades, the inscription on the monument had worn almost to nothing.

   UsageOften with a result word: wear thin, wear out, wear away, wear a hole in something.

   Similarerode, deteriorate, fray, thin

   Note

   It takes an adjective that names the result, as in wearing thin or Walter Scott's stock of money that "began to wear very low." With out it can mean a line coming to its end: Disraeli writes in Endymion of a family that "wore out" early in the century. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • Walter Scott uses 'began to wear very low' of a stock of money. This is narration about Brown's money in Guy Mannering. gutenberg.org
   • Disraeli's Endymion describes a family as having 'wore out' early in the century; the words occur in narration. gutenberg.org
3. 3
   noununcountable

   Deterioration in an item's appearance or strength resulting from prolonged use.

   The leather seats showed significant wear after a decade of daily commuting.

   Inspectors measure brake-pad wear at every service visit.

   UsageThings show wear or signs of wear; the set pair is wear and tear.

   Similardeterioration, erosion, damage

   Note

   The noun for what use leaves behind. Its best-known setting is the pair wear and tear, which leases and warranties treat as expected rather than as damage to be paid for. Time can be the agent too: H. G. Wells writes in The Time Machine of matches that had "escaped the wear of time for immemorial years." Source

   Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

   • Leases allow normal wear and tear without requiring the tenant to pay for it. gov.scot
   • Warranties distinguish normal wear and tear from defects eligible for compensation or repair. cdsassets.apple.com
   • H. G. Wells wrote The Time Machine. gutenberg.org
   • The quoted wording occurs in The Time Machine and describes a box of matches; the fictional speaker is the Time Traveller. gutenberg.org
4. 4
   have (expression)verbtransitive

   To bear or display something in one's expression, manner, or general appearance.

   He wore an air of quiet confidence throughout the interview.

   Survivors of the flood still wear haunted expressions when they talk about that night.

   UsageCommon with faces and manners: wear a smile, wear a worried look, wear an air of confidence.

   Similarbear, display, show

5. 5
   tire outverbtransitive

   To make someone gradually tired, weak, or impatient, as in 'wear someone down' or 'the delays were wearing on her'.

   Months of litigation had worn both families down, financially and emotionally.

   The constant noise from the building site began to wear on her nerves.

   UsageUsually wear someone down or out; something wears on you or on your nerves.

   Similartire, exhaust, weary, drain, grate

6. 6
   noununcountablein compounds

   Clothing; garments thought of as a group rather than as individual pieces.

   The label is best known for its elegant evening wear.

   Her closet held office wear on one side and weekend wear on the other.

   UsageComes after another word: evening wear, children's wear; some are one word: sportswear, footwear.

   Similarclothing, attire, apparel

7. 7
   hold up wellverbintransitive

   To remain durable and retain usefulness or value under hard use or over time; sometimes said of a person, with regard to how easy they are to tolerate.

   This fabric wears beautifully and still looks new after years of washing.

   Some friendships wear better than others as the years pass.

   UsageUsually with well or better: the fabric wears well.

   Similarlast, endure

8. 8
   noununcountable

   The act of wearing something, or the use an item gets while it is worn.

   The silk dress was too delicate for regular wear.

   The pocket watch had been in daily wear for thirty years and still kept perfect time.

   UsageUsually with a word for how often: for everyday wear, in constant wear.

   Similaruse

   Note

   The act of wearing rather than its damage. Context separates it from the damage that use leaves. A coat for daily wear is one you put on every day; a coat showing wear is one already marked by that use.

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