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wear

SayWAIR/wɛ(ə)ɹ/UK/wɛə/

Formswears, wearing, wore, worn

14 meanings of wear

Practice

  1. 1
    on the bodyverbtransitive
    To have clothes, jewelry or other things on your body, or to have your hair in a certain style.

    I wear my school uniform every day except Friday.

    He was wearing a heavy coat and gloves in the snow.

    UsageFirst you put on a coat; then you wear it.

  2. 2
    get damagedverbintransitive
    To slowly damage or use up something by rubbing or use, make a hole in it, or become damaged like this.

    Like a bar of soap that gets smaller every time you use it.

    These shoes wear quickly if you run in them every day.

    The knees of his jeans have worn thin.

    UsageSay jeans wear thin or shoes wear out.

    Similarerode, deteriorate, fray, thin

    Note
  3. 3
    noununcountable
    Damage that slowly happens to something because people use it a lot.

    Like the way old shoes get soft and thin after many years of walking.

    The stairs show a lot of wear after fifty years of footsteps.

    Check your tires for wear before a long trip.

    UsageSay wear and tear.

    Similardeterioration, erosion, damage

    Note
  4. 4
    have (expression)verbtransitive
    To show a feeling on your face or in the way you look.

    She wore a big smile all day after the good news.

    The players wear serious looks before every big game.

    UsageSay wear a smile.

    Similarbear, display, show

  5. 5
    tire outverbtransitive
    To slowly make someone tired, weak, or annoyed.

    Years of night work can wear out even the strongest nurses.

    The steep climb wore the hikers out long before they reached the top.

    UsageSay the climb wore me out.

    Similartire, exhaust, weary, drain, grate

  6. 6
    noununcountablein compounds
    The clothes that people put on their bodies.

    The shop sells winter wear like coats, hats, and gloves.

    The children's wear is on the second floor of the store.

    UsageSay winter wear or sportswear, not wear alone.

    Similarclothing, attire, apparel

  7. 7
    hold up wellverbintransitive
    To stay strong and useful even after a lot of use.

    These boots wear well even on rocky trails.

    Cheap toys don't wear as well as solid wooden ones.

    UsageSay these boots wear well.

    Similarlast, endure

  8. 8
    noununcountable
    The use something gets from being worn or used often.

    These shoes are made for everyday wear.

    Her ring has been in constant wear since her wedding day.

    UsageSay for everyday wear.

    Similaruse

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of wear apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English werian, meaning to clothe or put on, from an ancient root meaning to dress or put on clothes.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts