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🧥 To have on 😊 To show (face) ⏳ To become damaged 😩 To tire 👕 Clothing type 🛠️ Damage from use
to wear

to wear

470 3.3
Last without much damage after long use
  • verb
  • /wɛr/
translation icon : desgastarse
  • As we get older, the discs tend to wear out, a condition called osteoarthritis.
  • wear well
  • becomes worn
  • replace badly worn

Well, that's OK, but it kind of wears a little thin.

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Examples

  • With frequent use, that old machine began to wear down and needed repairs.

  • But it's just it doesn't wear well on my skin at all.

  • It's so interesting, but this stuff wears so well.

    Julia Adams MUA

  • I just feel like this one really doesn't wear well, at least on my skin.

  • Despite these wet conditions, these wet-weather tires wear extremely fast.

    Rush (2013)

  • The fabric will wear out quickly if you don't take care of it.

  • Over the years, the equipment started to wear from constant operation.

Synonyms

to wear down
vsto wear
27 4.1

Slowly make a person or thing weaker by repeated pressure

focuses on weakening effect including people, not only physical damage
to tatter
vsto wear
  • Archaic
27 5.3

To get torn and ragged from age or use

is about general lasting damage rather than specifically becoming torn
to wear out
vsto wear
26 2.3

To get damaged or stop working after long use

can also mean to continue lasting rather than becoming unusable
to hold out
vsto wear
15 3.9

To last long enough when supplies or power are low

can instead mean to become damaged or fail through prolonged use
to wear off
vsto wear
4 4.2

Become faded or damaged from use

can mean complete failure or simply to continue lasting
to wear away
vsto wear
2 3.8

To slowly remove material by rubbing or long use

applies more generally to lasting damage rather than surface erosion
to wear thin
vsto wear
1 5.6

Become thin or damaged from use, like a carpet

often means full unusability or simply to continue lasting over time
to attrit
vsto wear
9.9

To wear away a surface slowly by rubbing

includes general damage over time not limited to surface erosion
to frazzle
vsto wear
7.5

To rub something so it becomes damaged at the edges

may mean lasting gradual failure rather than only local rubbing damage

Antonyms

repair
352 2.3

Work done to fix something that is broken

to maintain
225 3.1

Keep something in good condition by repairing and protecting it

Idioms

worse for wear
8 6.8

Looking or feeling tired and in poor condition after use

to wear out your welcome
  • Informal
3 7.0

To stay too long as a guest so the host wants you to leave

to wear out one's welcome
  • Informal
1 7.0

Stay too long and make people feel annoyed

to wear the trousers
  • UK
1 7.9

To be the person who has the most control in a couple or family

to wear one's heart on one's sleeve
  • Informal
1 7.0

To show your feelings openly so other people can see them

to wear too many hats
  • Informal
1 6.3

To have more jobs and duties than you can handle

if the shoe fits, wear it
  • Informal
8.7

Accept a criticism if it applies to you

Phrasal Verbs

to wear off
93 4.0

An effect or feeling that becomes less strong and then stops

to wear down
27 4.1

Slowly make a person or thing weaker by repeated pressure

to wear out
26 2.3

To get damaged or stop working after long use

to wear black
23 2.1

Dress in black clothes to show you are sad after someone dies

to wear on
23 4.9

Time passes slowly and feels long

to wear out
19 2.7

To make a person very tired or a thing stop working by using it too much

to wear a helmet
16 1.5

To put on a strong hat to protect your head

to wear thin
  • Informal
11 6.2

Lose people's trust or patience over time

to wear sunscreen
7 2.6

To put sunscreen on your skin to protect it from the sun

to wear a disguise
5 3.9

To put on clothes or a mask to hide who you are

to wear off
4 4.2

Become faded or damaged from use

to wear away
2 3.8

To slowly remove material by rubbing or long use

to wear thin
1 5.6

Become thin or damaged from use, like a carpet

to wear thongs
  • Australian
1 7.9

To put on flip-flop sandals that people wear in Australia

to wear round
  • Specialized
9.9

To turn the front of a boat away from the wind so it blows from the other side

to wear ship
  • Specialized
9.9

Turn a sailing boat away from the wind by moving the back through the wind, not the front

to wear upon
7.0

Make someone tired over time from too much work or stress

Compounds

wear and tear
17 3.0

Slow damage that happens to things like cars or furniture from normal use over time

ready-to-wear
3 3.5

Clothes made in standard sizes that are sold in stores

athletic wear
1 2.7

Clothes people wear for sports or exercise and often for comfort

leisure wear
3.2

Comfortable casual clothes worn when relaxing or during free time

hand wear
2.7

Items like gloves or mittens you put on your hands for warmth, protection, and style

ready-to-wear
3.9

Made in standard sizes and sold in stores instead of being made for one person

wash-and-wear
3.9

Cloth that does not need ironing after it is washed

wash-and-wear
3.5

A fabric you can wash and wear without ironing

How Worn

to fall apart
155 2.8
to wear out
26 2.3
to wear
470 3.3
to hold up
163 3.7
to last
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

wear infinitive
wearing present participle
wears third person singular
wore past
worn past participle

Etymology

The sense of wear meaning 'to last' or 'become damaged' comes from the idea of use and rubbing. If something 'wears' well it does not get used away quickly, so to wear well means to stand up to use.