Dictionary

wear out en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Meanings

1. To cause (something) to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use, especially hard, heavy, or careless use.
   • That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
   • You're going to wear out that game if you keep playing so rough with it.
   • "You never take the trouble to see if he will go without it; your whip is always going as if you had the St. Vitus' dance in your arm; and if it does not wear you out, it wears your horse out; you know you are always changing your horses, and why? because you never give them any peace or encouragement." [1877], Anna Sewell, “Jerry Barker”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part III, page 175:
   • He wears a pair of tennis shoes out every summer.
2. (intransitive) To deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain.
   • Mr. Simpson adds that the station at Stanmore appears practically unchanged from the time of its opening, even to the L.N.W.R. rubber doormat, which "shows no signs of wearing out." 1942 September and October, “Notes and News: The Stanmore Branch”, in Railway Magazine, page 311:
   • The old tractor finally wore out.
   • My shoes wear out quickly now that I walk to work.
   • "The signalling at Salisbury has be replaced for safety reasons in the next handful of years. It's worn out. Last week, there was a signal cable issue near Tisbury that stopped proper running for four whole days. The system is decaying. 2026 February 18, Paul Clifton, “West of England Line problems laid bare”, in RAIL, number 1055, page 7:
3. To exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness, as by continued strain or exertion.
   • You kids are wearing me out!
   • Trying to keep up with politics wears me out.
   • Our physical advantage allowed us to wear the other team out and win.
4. (intransitive) To become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary, as by continued strain or exertion.
   • I'm wearing out, guys. Time to go to sleep.
   • They built our railways, but they wore themselves out in the process. 2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Lancaster (1860)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 58:
5. Of apparel, to display in public.
   • Those sweatpants are great for loafing around the house, but they're not meant to be worn out.
6. Of a shirt, to not tuck into the pants; to wear in a casual manner.
   • A dress shirt should be tucked in, but a t-shirt can be worn out.
7. (Southern-US) To punish by spanking.

Forms

Coordinates

break in · wear through · wear down · wear off · wear through · break down · wear in · break in · wear down · wear in

Deriveds

wear out one's welcome

Relateds

worn out · worn-out · outworn · wear off · wear down · wear away · wear thin

Synonyms

outwear

Translations (104)

eo lacigi (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · ru устава́ть (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · sw -chakaa (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · hy մաշվել (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · oc gausir (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · bg износя се (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · fi väsyttää (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · hy քրքրվել (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · ja 擦り減らす (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · es desgastar (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · de erschöpfen (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · az köhnəltmək (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · es desgastarse (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · grc τρύχω (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · de schlapp machen (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · de verschleißen (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · de sich abnutzen (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · ru изнуря́ть (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · bg износвам се (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · km សឹក (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · fr harasser (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · bg изтощавам (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · ga liath (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · ja 疲れさせる (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · es ahajar (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · bg износвам се impf износя се (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · es ajarse (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · eo eluziĝi (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · de ausleiern (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · ja 疲れる (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · pl zniszczyć (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · pl niszczyć (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · gl fatigar (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · fi kuluttaa (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · fi uuvuttaa (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · bg износя (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · pox ai̯brükot (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · it sfinire (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · hy քրքրել (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · gl cansar (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · gl randar (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · th บั่นทอน (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · sga ara·chrin (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · ga caith (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · ja 擦り減る (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · bg изтощя (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · el λιώνω (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · es ajar (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · oc usar (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · gd teirig (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · nl vermoeien (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · nl uitputten (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · de abnutzen (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · ga traoch (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · hu elkopik (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · ru изма́тывать (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · it deteriorarsi (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · hu elhasznál (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · pt desgastar-se (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · gl escangallar (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · bg изтощавам се (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · fi väsyä (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · ga imigh ó mhaith (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · fr user (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · fr fatiguer (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · nl verslijten (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · nl verslijten (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · de verschleißen (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · it fare fuori (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · fi kulua (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · az yırtıb-dağıtmaq (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · oc abenar (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · ru утомля́ться (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · mi taiākotikoti (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · pt desgastar (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · gl fatigar (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · it logorare (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · grc κατατρύχω (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · pl zdezelować (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · ru изна́шиваться (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · pl dezelować (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · pt desgastar (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · it stancare (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · hy մաշել (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · it esaurire (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · ru изна́шивать (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · hu elhasználódik (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · bg изтощя се (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · qu llik'iy (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · la obsolesco (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · fr s'user (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain) · fi kuluttaa (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · la terō (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · it consumare (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · el λιώνω (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · hu elkoptat (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · ga traoith (to exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness) · gl cansar (to become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary) · sv slita ut (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · ru износи́ть (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · el εξαντλώ (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · mi taiākotikoti (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · bg износвам (to cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use) · it usurarsi (to deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain)