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

Using one that’s old and worn out will be inefficient at best and give you a rash or razor burn at worst. —Megan Gustashaw, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2025

The shoe’s midsole will subtly correct your gait and help the shoe wear out more evenly. —Lauren Wingenroth, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025

Part of the reason for this is that the elastic bands wear out and result in a less tight fit. —Lisa Wood Shapiro, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025

The teenager is elated, especially because his current pair of sneakers are worn out. —Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 18 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for wear out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

wear out

verb

1

: to tire gradually

worn out from exercising

2

: to make or become useless by wear