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

This process is critical to the effective functioning of the body because old cells are constantly wearing out and needing to be replaced. —Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 26 Sep. 2024

This dress can be worn out shopping or easily dressed up if the situation calls for it. —Kirsten Chanel Webber, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2024

Too much uncertainty is metabolically draining and can leave you feeling distraught and worn out. —Lisa Feldman Barrett, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2024

From its first wear out of the box, this shoe was comfortable, easy to walk in, and didn’t chafe against our skin or cause blisters. —Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 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