Language Research

wear · verb T

/weər/Full view

Word family

Nouns: wear, underwear

Verbs: wear

wear (CLOTHES)

A1 to have clothing, jewellery, etc. on your body

Dictionary examples:

Tracey is wearing a simple black dress.

What are you wearing to Caroline's wedding?

Some musicians don't like to wear rings when they're playing.

He wears glasses for reading.

She wears very little make-up.

Learner example:

She likes to wear new clothes. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Russian)

wear (HAIR)

B2 to arrange or grow your hair in a particular way

Dictionary example:

She usually wears her hair in a ponytail.

Learner example:

I now wear my long hair loose and I dyed it black. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

wear (FACE)

C2 to show a particular emotion on your face.

Dictionary example:

He was wearing a smile/frown.

Learner example:

She was wearing a big smile on her face that reflected happiness. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

wear thin

C2 If a feeling or explanation starts to wear thin, it becomes weaker or harder to accept.

Dictionary example:

I've warned you several times about being late and my patience is wearing thin.

Learner example:

Hardly could they fight against others, when their own convictions had started to wear thin. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)

wear off

B2 If a feeling or effect wears off, it gradually disappears.

Dictionary example:

The injection the dentist gave me is starting to wear off.

Learner example:

And Jim, has his pas[s]ion for you finally worn off? (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

wear (sth) out or wear out (sth)

B1 to use something so much that it is damaged and cannot be used any more, or to become damaged in this way

Dictionary example:

He's already worn out two pairs of shoes this year.

Learner example:

My shoes are worn out too! I have to get new ones. (Preliminary English Test; B1; French)

wear sb out or wear out sb

B2 to make someone extremely tired

Dictionary example:

Standing up all day is wearing me out.

Learner example:

This does not mean that we have to spend hours in the gym and get home worn out. (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)