wear

verb

\ ˈwer

wore\ ˈwȯr

\; worn\ ˈwȯrn

\; wearing

Definition of wear

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to bear or have on the person wore a coat

2a : to use habitually for clothing, adornment, or assistance wears a size 10 wear glasses

b : to carry on the person wear a sword

3a : 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

4a : 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 sense 3a

intransitive verb

1a : 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

2a : 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 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2 : to become trite, unconvincing, or out-of-date an argument that quickly wore thin

wear

noun

Definition of wear (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : the act of wearing : the state of being worn : use clothes for everyday wear

2a : clothing or an article of clothing usually of a particular kind especially : clothing worn for a special occasion or popular during a specific period

b : fashion, vogue

3 : wearing quality : durability under use

4 : the result of wearing or use : diminution or impairment due to use wear-resistant surface

Wear

geographical name

\ ˈwir

Definition of Wear (Entry 3 of 3)

river 67 miles (108 kilometers) long in northern England flowing into the North Sea at Sunderland

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Examples of wear in a Sentence

Verb

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

Noun

shoes that are perfect for everyday wear The deck is built to withstand years of wear. I got a lot of wear out of these boots. a new line of evening wear The carpet is showing signs of wear. You should inspect the tires for wear.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

On March 9, 1959, Barbara Millicent Roberts entered the world wearing a black-and-white swimsuit. — Brennan Kilbane, Allure, "Barbie's 60th Birthday Wish Was to Be More Inclusive. Now What?," 2 May 2019 Notably, the next time Kate appears at a formal event, her new honor will visibly apparent, as those in the RVO wear a blue sash in recognition of their appointment. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Queen Elizabeth Appoints Kate Middleton a Dame Grand Cross in the Royal Victorian Order," 29 Apr. 2019 She's photographed twice, wearing two different burkinis. — Glamour, "Halima Aden Appears in the 2019," 29 Apr. 2019 Savannah and Seth looked very grown up for the occasion, wearing a sequined dress and patterned suit, respectively. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "Kelly Clarkson and Her Husband Made a Rare Red Carpet Appearance With All of Their Kids," 29 Apr. 2019 Surrounded by fans, Mr. Woods’s walk to his family and then to previous Masters winners, wearing their green jackets as a mark of respect, felt like a joyous coronation. — William A. Galston, WSJ, "Tiger Woods Masters His Demons," 16 Apr. 2019 Your feet will sweat a bit more when wearing shoes or boots with this sort of membrane layer. — James Lynch, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Hiking Boots for Exploring the Outdoors," 9 Apr. 2019 Here's how: Remove all the items on your furniture while wearing gloves, long sleeves and pants to minimize exposure. — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, "How to Remove Mold From Wood Furniture and Particle Board," 9 Apr. 2019 Keep wire brushes in good condition and replace them when worn so metal bristles don’t stick to the grates and get into your food. — Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, "All the BBQ Cleaning Tips You Need to Get Your Grill Ready for Summer," 5 Apr. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

With that in mind, Glover’s three sneaker styles—the Nizza, the Continental 80, and the Lacombe—are made of unbleached white canvas, with the intention of showing their wear. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Surprise! Donald Glover Drops an Adidas Originals Collection of Canvas Sneakers," 18 Apr. 2019 And while their prices are so on point—their dresses will typically run you about $49.90—constantly updating your wardrobe with their wears is about as sustainable as their fabrics (not very). — Samantha Leac, Glamour, "Here’s What $10,000 Actually Looks Like," 9 Apr. 2019 The swimwear is made in Italy and its resort wear is crafted from 100 percent silk and natural fibers. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "The Best New Swimwear of Summer 2019," 21 Mar. 2019 That’s the standard set by the American National Standards Institute, the industry organization that, among other things, sets the bar for safety gear, ensuring that protective eye wear is just that—protective. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "Another Reason Why You Should Always Wear Safety Glasses," 13 Mar. 2019 After all, some guests like their dark clothes separated from lights; some want their hanging wears to be arranged by length; some want to have their cosmetics arranged by height. — Jessica Flint, WSJ, "The Seattle Hotel Playbook," 3 Dec. 2018 Casey was never really that into outdoor wear and gear...just the guys inside it. — Judy Greer, Marie Claire, "Rom-Com BFFs Get the Spotlight: Casey from 27 Dresses," 12 Feb. 2019 To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. — Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Build Your Look Around Your Eye Color," 31 Jan. 2019 Emily draws on personal narratives to create modern work-wear silhouettes, incorporating female-centric traditions of quilting, mending, and applique into each of her collections. — Scarlett Newman, Teen Vogue, "This Year’s LVMH Prize Finalists Focus In On Sustainability In Fashion," 27 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wear.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near wear

weaponshawing

weaponsmith

weapons of mass destruction

Statistics for wear

Last Updated

6 May 2019

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Time Traveler for wear

The first known use of wear was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for wear

wear

verb

English Language Learners Definition of wear

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to use or have (something) as clothing : to have (a shirt, pants, etc.) over part of your body

: to use or have (something) on your body

: to grow or arrange (your hair) in a particular way

wear

noun

English Language Learners Definition of wear (Entry 2 of 2)

: the act of using something as clothing : the act of wearing something

: the act of using something

: clothing that is designed for a specified kind of person, occasion, or use

See the full definition for wear in the English Language Learners Dictionary

wear

verb

\ ˈwer

wore\ ˈwȯr \; worn\ ˈwȯrn \; wearing

Kids Definition of wear

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to use as an article of clothing or decoration He's wearing boots. She wears a ribbon in her hair.

2 : to carry or use on the body I am wearing perfume.

3 : show entry 1 sense 1 He always wears a smile.

4 : to damage, waste, or produce by continued use … I had gone … by a different way so as not to wear a trail.— Scott O'Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins

5 : to make tired

6 : to last through long use The cloth wears well.

7 : to lessen or end with the passing of time The day wore on.

wear out

1 : to make useless by long or hard use

2 : tire entry 1 sense 1