definition of

wear

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verb

/wer/

present tense
I/you/we/they	wear
he/she/it	wears
present participle	wearing
past tense	wore
past participle	worn

Related dictionary definitions

1
[transitive] to have something on your body as clothing, decoration, or protection
He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
She wasn’t wearing any makeup.
I don’t have anything to wear to my interview.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: put on, get dressed, slip into, dress, try on... more
1. a.
  to use a particular type of clothing or decoration on your body
  He wears glasses now.
  It was fashionable for men to wear their hair long.
  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: put on, get dressed, slip into, dress, try on... more
2
[transitive] to have a particular appearance or expression
They all wore puzzled frowns.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: seem, tend, possess, have, bear... more
3
[intransitive] if something wears or wears thin, it gets thinner or weaker because it has been used a lot
His shoes were wearing at the heel.
The carpet has worn thin in places.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: weaken, lessen, reduce, subside, moderate... more
1. a.
  [transitive] if you wear a hole or mark in something, you form a hole or mark in it by using it or rubbing it a lot
  wear something in something:
  You’ve worn a hole in your jeans.
  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: damage, spoil, mark, harm, stain... more
4
[transitive] [usually in negatives or questions] British informal to be willing to accept something that someone says or does
We tried that excuse but they wouldn’t wear it.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: bear, tolerate, live with, put up with, bear up... more

phrases

wear the pants
informal
to be the person in a relationship who has the most control and makes most of the decisions
Who wears the pants in your house?
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: control, govern, watch over, command, supervise... more
wear thin
if something such as a feeling or explanation wears thin, it becomes gradually weaker or harder to accept
After 50 pages, the reader’s patience starts to wear thin.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: weaken, lessen, reduce, subside, moderate... more
wear well
1. 1
  if a person wears well, they look attractive and healthy even though they are not young
  He was at least 50, but he’d worn well.
  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: more
2. 2
  if something wears well, it stays in good condition even after a lot of use
  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: maintain, withstand, stabilize, standardize, level... more

phrasal verbs

wear away

[intransitive/transitive]

present tense
I/you/we/they	wear away
he/she/it	wears away
present participle	wearing away
past tense	wore away
past participle	worn away

to disappear, or to make something disappear, because it has been used or rubbed a lot

The inscription on the ring had almost worn away.

The grass has been worn away by cars.

Synonyms or related words for this meaning of

wear down

[transitive] [often passive]

present tense
I/you/we/they	wear down
he/she/it	wears down
present participle	wearing down
past tense	wore down
past participle	worn down

1
to make someone gradually lose their energy or confidence
They were worn down by the stress of caring for five children.
Slowly he wore his opponent down.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: disappoint, let down, discourage, disillusion, demoralize... more
2
to make something gradually disappear or become thinner by using or rubbing it
The old stone steps had been worn down by years of use.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: dissolve, wish away, swallow up, efface, wipe something off/from the map... more

wear in

[transitive]

present tense
I/you/we/they	wear in
he/she/it	wears in
present participle	wearing in
past tense	wore in
past participle	worn in

if you wear in something such as a pair of shoes, you wear them until they fit your feet better and are more comfortable

It’s always so painful wearing in new shoes.

wear off

[intransitive]

present tense
I/you/we/they	wear off
he/she/it	wears off
present participle	wearing off
past tense	wore off
past participle	worn off

1
if something such as a pain, an emotion, or a feeling wears off, it gradually disappears
The numbness in his shoulder was starting to wear off.
I got bored with the job once the novelty wore off.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: disappear, finish, go away, die, stop... more
2
if a feeling wears off, it gradually disappears
I got bored with the job once the novelty wore off.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: color, come over, sweep over, grip, heighten... more

wear on

present tense
I/you/we/they	wear on
he/she/it	wears on
present participle	wearing on
past tense	wore on
past participle	worn on

1
[intransitive] if time wears on, it passes
My headache grew worse as the evening wore on.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: passing, go by, tick away, elapse, intervene... more
2
[transitive] wear on someone if something wears on you, it is annoying, and makes you tired
Your constant complaining is really wearing on me.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: annoy, provoke, anger, bother, frustrate... more

wear out

present tense
I/you/we/they	wear out
he/she/it	wears out
present participle	wearing out
past tense	wore out
past participle	worn out

1
[transitive] to make someone feel very tired
She was worn out from taking care of her elderly mother.
wear yourself out:
You need a vacation or you’ll wear yourself out.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: tire, exhaust, take it out of you, finish off, drain... more
2
[intransitive/transitive] to use something a lot so that it no longer works, or can no longer be used
The children have all worn out their shoes.
The rear bearing had worn out.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: throw away, waste, waste, abuse, misuse... more
3
[transitive] to make a hole or mark in something by using or rubbing it a lot
He’d long since worn out the knees in his old jeans.
Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wear: damage, spoil, mark, harm, stain... more

This is the British English definition of wear. View British English definition of wear.

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