wear

¹wear

verb \ˈwer\

wore\ˈwȯr\worn\ˈwȯrn\wear·ing

Definition of WEAR

transitive verb

1

: to bear or have on the person <wore a coat>

2

a : to use habitually for clothing, adornment, or assistance <wears a size 10> <wear glasses> b : to carry on the person <wear a sword>

3

a : to hold the rank or dignity or position signified by (an ornament) <wear the royal crown> b : exhibit, present <wore a happy smile> <commend the book for wearing its research so lightly — Brad Leithauser> c : to show or fly (a flag or colors) on a ship

4

a : to cause to deteriorate by use b : to impair or diminish by use or attrition : consume or waste gradually <letters on the stone worn away by weathering>

5

: to produce gradually by friction or attrition <wear a hole in the rug>

6

: to exhaust or lessen the strength of : weary, fatigue

7

: to cause (a ship) to go about with the stern presented to the wind

8

British : to accept or tolerate without complaint : put up with —usually used in negative constructions <your mates wouldn't wear it — Colin MacInnes>

9

: take on 3a

intransitive verb

1

a : to endure use : last under use or the passage of time <material that will wear for years> b : to retain quality or vitality <the classics wear well>

2

a : to diminish or decay through use <the heels of his shoes began to wear> b : to diminish or fail with the passage of time <the effect of the drug wore off> <the day wore on> c : to grow or become by attrition or use <the blade wore dull>

3

of a ship : to change to an opposite tack by turning the stern to the wind — compare tack

— wear·er noun

— wear on

: irritate, fray <the constant beeping wore on my nerves>

— wear the trousers or wear the pants

: to have the controlling authority in a household

— wear thin

1

: to become weak or ready to give way <my patience was wearing thin>

2

: to become trite, unconvincing, or out-of-date <an argument that quickly wore thin>

Examples of WEAR

1. He was wearing blue jeans.
2. She wore a red blouse to work.
3. White coats are often worn by doctors.
4. He doesn't wear a watch.
5. a badge worn by police officers
6. Were you wearing a seat belt?
7. She wears her hair in a ponytail.
8. I used to wear my hair long.
9. The teacher was wearing a frown.
10. He wore a hole in his pants.

Origin of WEAR

Middle English weren, from Old English werian; akin to Old Norse verja to clothe, invest, spend, Latin vestis clothing, garment, Greek hennynai to clothe

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WEAR

Synonyms: break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, fag, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, exhaust, wear out, weary

Related Words: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken

Near Antonyms: activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize; relax, rest, unwind

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with WEAR

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, weir, where, yare