wear out

verb

wore out; worn out; wearing out; wears out

transitive verb

1

: tire, exhaust

2

: to make useless especially by long or hard usage

3

: erase, efface

4

: to endure through : outlast

wear out a storm

5

: to consume (time) tediously

wear out idle days

intransitive verb

: to become useless from long or excessive wear or use

Synonyms

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

Examples of wear out in a Sentence

keeping up with twin toddlers wears me out

Recent Examples on the Web

Some 62% of Americans feel worn out by election coverage, according to a Pew Research Center survey in May. —Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN, 9 July 2024

Creatives can easily get worn out during a promotion process, especially one that feels antithetical — or downright degrading — to their work. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2024

The Mets were able to wear out the Cubs with some long offensive innings. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2024

Project Overview Working Time: 2 hours Total Time: 4 hours Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $25 to $50 Over time, carpet wears out. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

wear out

verb

1

: to tire gradually

worn out from exercising

2

: to make or become useless by wear