wear

1 of 2

verb

wore ˈwȯr How to pronounce wear (audio) ; worn ˈwȯrn How to pronounce wear (audio) ; wearing

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 lightlyBrad 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 itColin MacInnes
9

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
wearer noun

wear

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act of wearing : the state of being worn : use
clothes for everyday wear
2
a
: 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
3
: wearing quality : durability under use
4
: the result of wearing or use : diminution or impairment due to use
wear-resistant surface
Phrases
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: to become trite, unconvincing, or out-of-date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 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
Keeping with her backpack’s practical vibe, the 58-year-old wore light-wash jeans, brown boots, and a lightweight, spring-ready jacket. Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 Some scattered showers could start to pop up as the afternoon wears on. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Earlier this year, the duo wore custom football jerseys to the Super Bowl. Christy Choi, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 The bride wore her mother’s Vera Wang wedding gown for the ceremony and the reception, and QR codes on every seat provided guests with a link to subscribe to the Times for full games access. Cora Frazier, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 West wore a hockey mask over a black balaclava, removing both face coverings, if briefly, as the party was nearing its conclusion. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024 The singer also wore tweed on the red carpet earlier in the night, and riffed on the theme for her second look. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 Available in gray, black, and even a deep burgundy, these sleek shoes can be paired with anything from jeans to trousers, creating a multitude of wearing opportunities, thus becoming one of the most versatile shoes in your travel wardrobe. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024 Madeline, described as blond with blue eyes and 5 feet, 1 inch tall, was last seen wearing a green sweatshirt, black shorts and white Crocs. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
The New York designer of slinky evening wear is still in business, creating evening fantasy creations from four grand up to $14,000. Merle Ginsberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 As our editors can attest, these things last forever, with virtually indestructible soles and leather uppers that only get better with wear. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2024 Over the course of 120 days, the researchers heated samples of the material to 212 degrees Fahrenheit to simulate years of wear. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 With regular upkeep and a single deep clean, the device hasn’t shown any signs of significant wear, even after consistent use. Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2024 The casual warm-weather-friendly frock has won over Amazon shoppers for its versatility and ease of wear. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 The longtime best-selling men's sweatshirt boasts plush, sturdy fleece that stays soft after multiple wears and washes, as well as double stitching at the neck and arms to increase durability. David Moses, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 Rosenthal and wife Monica squeeze into thermal wear and drysuits to float amid a pristine environment. Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Its durable leather upper can be polished into an elegant shine or roughed up to look a little more relaxed, giving them an entirely different look for the boardroom or for casual wear. Olivia Muenter, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near wear

Cite this Entry

“Wear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wear

1 of 2 verb
ˈwa(ə)r How to pronounce wear (audio)
ˈwe(ə)r
wore ˈwō(ə)r How to pronounce wear (audio)
ˈwȯ(ə)r
; worn ˈwō(ə)rn How to pronounce wear (audio)
ˈwȯ(ə)rn
; wearing
1
a
: to use as an article of clothing, adornment, or assistance
wears blue jeans all the time
wears glasses
b
: to carry on the person
wear a watch
2
: to have or show an appearance of
wore a happy smile
3
a
: to damage, destroy, or make less by use or by scraping or rubbing
wore the shoes to pieces
b
: to produce gradually by wearing
wear a hole in the rug
c
: to tire or weaken : fatigue
soldiers worn by the strain of war
4
: to stand up under use
a silk that wears well
5
a
: to lessen or end with the passage of time
the effect of the medicine wore off
the day wore on
b
: to reach a certain condition gradually
the blade wore dull
wearer noun

wear

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the act of wearing : use
b
: the state of being worn
2
: clothing or an article of clothing usually of a particular kind or for a special occasion or use
children's wear
3
: wearing quality : durability under use
4
: the result of wearing or use
a carpet showing signs of wear

Geographical Definition

Wear

geographical name

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

More from Merriam-Webster on wear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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